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Col. George E. Randolph at 40. 



THE HISTORY 



BATTERY E, 

First Regiment Rhode Island 
Light Artillery, 



IN THE WAR OF 1861 AND 1865, 
TO PRESERVE THE UNION. 



BY / 

r' 

GEORGE LEWIS. 



Illustrated with Portraits and Map. 



r Pf AY 7 c : 
PROVIDENCE; 
Snow & Farnham, Printers, 



1892. 



Entered according to act of Congress, in theyear 1S91, 

By GEORGE LEWIS, 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 






OFFICERS ANF MEN 



BATTERY E, 



AND TO THE Tender ivlemory 



Brave arid Loyal Dead 
THE AUTHOR DEDICATES THIS BOOK. 





The Author at 60. 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE 



AT a reunion of the First Regiment Rhode Island Light 
Artillery Veteran Association held at Rocky 
Point August 9, 1888, a historian was appointed from 
each battery to prepare material for a history of the regiment. 
It becoming evident that the plan of a regimental history 
would prove a failure, the author of this volume was requested 
by his comrades to write the history of Battery E. When 
the work was nearly completed a petition was presented 
to the legislature for an appropriation to publish the work. 
Before this was acted upon by the General Assembly the 
executive committee of the regiment appointed a special com- 
mittee to ask the legislature to so amend the petition of 
Battery E as to include the other batteries of the regiment. 
A resolution to that effect was passed March 20, 1891, which 
authorized the purchase of two hundred copies of each bat- 
tery history by the state at two dollars and fifty cents ('1l'2.5o) 
per copy whenever approved by the Secretary of State. 

The author of this volume makes no claim to possess 
special qualifications for the work assigned him. Being en- 
gaged in daily labor in the employ of a business firm he had 
only his spare hours to devote to his task. This necessarily 
delayed the progress of the work. Every precaution has 
been taken to assure the trustworthiness of the history. 
Yet some errors must be expected in this as in all histories 
covering the details of so many important events. Doubtless 
a few dates in the roster will be found incorrect as the re- 
cords from which they were taken have not always agreed. 

The work has been prepared with a view of meeting the 
wants of those not in possession of a large number of war 
histories. 



VI BATTERY E, FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

The writer has endeavored not to bring the honorable part 
borne by Battery E in the Army of the Potomac so much to 
the front as to make its claims appear egotistical. Neither 
is it claimed that the battery was superior to the other excel- 
lent Rhode Island batteries that served the state so honora- 
bly during the war. Many volumes of standard authors 
have been read, and no expense has been spared in order to 
substantiate every statement made. A large number of dia- 
ries kept by the men belonging to the battery have been 
kindly loaned to the writer. These daily records have inva- 
riably agreed upon every important event. Besides these 
and other sources of information the Official Rebellion 
Records have been consulted so far as they have been pub- 
lished. As a rule in all cases of variance preference has been 
given to the Official Records. 

After three years of labor performed as stated above the 
author presents this volume to the surviving members of the 
battery and to the friends of its fallen heroes. 

I desire to express my obligations to Adjutant-General 
Dyer and his assistants and to Colonel Randolph, Major 
Rhodes, Captain Bucklyn, Lieutenants Jastram and Hum- 
phrey, Dr. Hill, Sergeants Remington, Millen, Slocum and 
Hargraves, Corporal Butts and Comrade William H. Phinney, 
for valuable aid and material. I am also indebted to Mrs. 
Mary H. Clarke, sister of Lieutenant Gardiner, also to Mrs. 
James A. Tanner, Charles H. Williams, son of First Ser- 
geant Williams, and to the widow and son of Comrade George 
F. Lord for the loan of diaries left in their possession. To 
many others whose names are not given my obligations 
are due. 

I am especially indebted to Rev. Augustus Woodbury, 
Lieutenants Jastram and Humphrey, Colonel Bliss and M. 
S. Lewis for assistance in revising the work. 

GEORGE LEWIS. 

Januakv I, 1892. 



CONTENTS. 



Chapter I. 
September-October, 1861. 

Page. 

Organization and Departure, ..... i 

Chapter II. 

October, 1861. 

Camp Sprague, . . . . . . . . 9 

Chapter III. 

October 29, 1861, to March 14, 1862. 
Camp Webb and Artillery Camp, .... 17 

Chapter IV. 

March-April, 1862. 

Departure for the Peninsula, and Siege of Yorktown. 34 

Chapter V. 

:\Iay, 1862. 

Battle of Williamsburg, . . . . . . 41 

Chapter VI. 

May-June, 1862. 

In Pursuit of the Enemy and Battle of Fair Oaks, . 45 

Chapter "V^II. 

June, 1862. 

In Front of Richmond and Battle of Glendale, . . 53 



Viii BATTERY E, FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Chapter VIII. 

July, 1862. p^^^ 

Battle of Malvern Hill and Retreat, • . . 66 

Chapter IX. 

July-August, 1862. 

Harrison's Landing and Battle of Kettle Run, . 76 

Chapter X, 

August, 1862. 
Second Battle of Bull Run, 

Chapter XI. 
September, 1862, 
Battle of Chantilly and Death of General Kearny, 

Chapter XII. 

September-October-November, 1862 
Arlington Heights, Poolesville.- Pursuit of Lee's 
Army to Fredericksburo- 

&' • • • • , 

Chapter XIII. 

November-December, 1862. 
Camp Pitcher and Battle of Fredericksburo- 

Chapter XIV. 
December 17, 1862, to April 27, 1863 
Camp Pitcher Resumed, Burnside Second Failure, Win- 
ter Quarters, Camp Sickles, 

Chapter XV. 

May, 1863. 

Battle of Chancellorsville. -Return to Camp Sickles, 154 



92 



100 



107 



124 



138 



CONTENTS. IX 

Chapter XVI. 

May-June-July, 1863. page 

Campaign of Gettysburg, . . . . . .177 

Chapter XVII, 
July 17th to November i, 1863. 
General Lee — Recrosses the Potomac — Camp at Sul- 
pher Springs — Lee Pursued to Culpepper — Meade 
is Flanked and Retires to Fairfax Court House, . 226 

Chapter XVIII. 
November, 1863. 
Battles of Rappahannock Station — Kelley's Ford — 

Payne's Farm and Mine Run, .... 236 

Chapter XIX. 
December, 1863, to May, 1864. 
Winters Quarters at Brandy Station — Re-enlistments 
— Change of Battery Officers — Preparation for 
^Summer Campaign, ...... 253 

Chapter XX. 

May, 1864. 

Battle of Wilderness, 281 

Chapter XXI. 

May, 1864. 

Battle of Spottsylvania, ...... 289 

Chapter XXII. 
May-June, 1864. 
Crossing the North Anna. — March to Hanover Town 

— Battle of Cold Harbor, 301 



X BATTERY E, FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Chapter XXIII. 

June, 1864. Page. 

Crossing the James River — Assaults upon the Intrench- 

ments of Petersburg, ...... 320 

Chapter XXIV. 
July-August, 1864. 
Embarked for Washington and Return. — The Mine 

Explosion, ....... 338 

Chapter XXV. 
August-September, 1864. 
Battles of Deep Bottom Run. — Weldon Railroad, and 
Reams Station — Fort Rice — Thirty-three Men Re- 
turn Home. . . . . . . -3 53 

Chapter XXVI. 
September 26 to December 20, 1864. 
Battery Re-organized. — Hatcher's Run. — South Side 
Railroad — Death of General Birney — Presiden- 
tial Election — Captain Rhodes on Sick Leave — 
Lieutenant Parker in Command, . . . 3/7 

Chapter XXVII. 
December 20, 1864, to March 26, 1865. 
Fort Wadsvvorth — Winter Quarters — Weldon Rail- 
road — Lieutenant Bucklyn and Captain Rhodes 
Resign, 396 

Chapter XXVIII. 
March 26 to April 9, 1865. 
Richmond and Petersburg Surrendered — Pursuit and 

Capture of Lee's Army, . . .412 



CONTENTS. XI 

Chapter XXIX. 
April-May-June, 1865. page. 
Camp Near City Point — March to Alexandria — Re- 
turn Home and Muster Out of Service — Biogra- 
phical Sketches, 429 

Appendix, ......... 463 

Roster and Battery Index, ..... 483 
Index to Officers and Persons Mentioned not Belong- 
ing to Battery, 533 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

Portra 

]iattery 

Map, 



Page. 

of Col. George Engs Randolph, . Frontispiece 

of the Author, . . . Opposite Preface 

of Capt. George Engs Randolph, Opposite page lo 

of Capt. Walter Otis Bartlett, . ■■ ■ ^ 

of Lieut. Israel R. Sheldon, 

of First Lieut. Pardon S. Jastram, 

of Lieut. Charles A. Brown, 

of Capt. John K. Bucklyn, 

of Lieut. Joseph S. Milne, . 

of Lieut. Lester S. Hill, 

of Lieut. Herbert F. Bennett, 

of First Lieut. George W. H. Allen, 

of Brevet Maj. William B. Rhodes, 

of Lieut. Allen Gardiner, 

of Israel Riley, 

of Ordnance Sergt. William Millen, 

of P^irst Sergt. Charles P. Williams, ) 

of P'^irst Sergt. James Donnelly, [ 

of Sergt. James A. Tanner, [ 

of Sergt. Arthur W Hargraves, j 

of First Lieut. Benjamin Freeborn, 

of Lieut. Edward A. Chandler, 

of First Lieut. Ezra K. Parker, 

of Capt. Jacob H. Lamb, 

of Capt. William Albert Arnold, \ 

of Lieut. James F. Allen, \ 

of Lieut. Hezekiah Potter, ) 

of Lieut. George Humphrey, 

of Lieut. George Lewis, ) 

of Lieut. William S. Blair, [ 

of F'irst Sergt. William E. Bowen, ) 

of First Serst. Charles S. Winslow, 



of O. M. Sergt. Benjamin N. Remington, 

of Sergt. John Slocum, 

of Corporal Francis B. Butts, 

E Monument, .... ' 



1 



) 



28 
103 
127 
149 
177 
224 

255 
265 
269 
281 
316 
332 
368 



379 
388 

394 
440 

446 

450 

454 



45 



8 



" 471 
In rear of book. 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E. 



CHAPTER I . 
September— October, 1861. 

Organization and Departure. 

THE great struggle between the admirers of the barba- 
rous system of American slavery and the believers in a 
higher civilization commenced at Charleston, S. C, 
when the secessionists opened fire from Sullivan's Island 
upon the feeble but brave garrison at Fort Sumter, April 
12, 1861. 

Three days later President Lincoln issued his first procla- 
mation for seventy-five thousand three months troops. On the 
following day, Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, responded 
to the call by offering, in addition to her quota of one regi- 
ment of infantry, one battery of light artillery, which was 
promptly accepted by the War Department. 

Such was the energy displayed by Governor Sprague and 
his assistants that the Marine Artillery, of Providence, was 
organized in three days for three months' active service, and 
on the 1 8th the battery, under command of Capt. Charles H. 
Tompkins, embarked on board the Empire State for Jersey 
City. Thence it proceeded, byway of Elizabeth, to Easton, 
Pa., for a week or two of drill. It arrived at Washington on 
the 2d of May, and, on the 7th, it was mustered into the ser- 
vice of the United States. Lieut.-Gov.-elect Samuel G. Arnold 
accompanied Captain Tompkins. The battery was followed 
on the 20th by the first detachment of the First Regiment, 
under Col. Ambrose E. Burnside, and four days after by the 
second detachment, under Lieut. -Col. Joseph S. Pitman. 
The regiment and battery were temporarily quartered at the 
Patent Office. In the meantime. Camp Sprague was being 
built for the headquarters of the Rhode Island troops, and 
on the 18th of May the battery moved into this new camp. 



2 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

The President, on the 3d of May, issued another call for 
additional troops. This call was for 42,034 volunteers to 
serve for three years, unless sooner discharged ; 22,714 regu- 
lars, to serve for five years ; and 18,000 seamen. 

In anticipation that a call for another regiment from Rhode 
Island would soon be made, recruiting had been going on 
ever since the First Regiment left for the front. On the 7th, 
Governor Sprague authorized the organization of another bat- 
tery, to be known as Battery A. Their camp was located on 
Dexter Training Ground, in Providence, and bore the honored 
name of Camp Burnside. 

The regiment being rapidly completed, was mustered into 
the United States service June 6th, and on the 19th took pas- 
sage on the State of Maine, at Fox Point, for Washington, 
where it arrived on the 22d, encamping in Gales's Woods, 
near Camp Sprague. Battery A was recruited at the same 
time and place as the Second Regiment, and accompanied it 
on the Kill von Kidl. It went into camp, after arriving in 
Washington, at Camp Sprague, and was assigned to General 
McDowell's command. 

Aug. I, 1 86 1, the Secretary of War authorized Governor 
Sprague to equip a battalion of artillery, to consist of three 
batteries, one of which. Battery A, was then in the field, and 
Capt. Charles H. Tompkins was promoted to major to com- 
mand the battalion. 

Battery B was rapidly recruited under Col. William H. 
Parkhurst, who was appointed its captain, but he declining the 
appointment. First Lieut. Thomas F. Vaughan, of Battery A, 
was given the command. The battery left Providence for the 
seat of war on the 13th of August. 

Governor Sprague issued an order on the 12th of August, 
for the organization of the Third Regiment Rhode Island 
Heavy Artillery. Its camp was on the Spring Green Farm, 
on the Old Warwick road, in Warwick, and was called Camp 
Ames. The regiment was recruited and drilled here until 
September 7th, when it left for Providence, sailing from there 
on the Commodore for Long Island, N. Y. From that place 
it was sent, in October, to Fortress Monroe, and encamped 
near Hampton, Va., where it remained until the 23d, when 
it embarked with the expedition under General Sherman and 
Admiral Dupont, for Port Royal, S. C. 



iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 3 

The recruiting for Battery C followed rapidly, and on 
August •25th was mustered into service, under command of 
Capt. William B. Weeden, who had been promoted from 
second lieutenant of Battery A. The battery left for Wash- 
ington on the 31st, and during the month of September its 
headquarters were at Camp Sprague. Early in October it 
crossed the Potomac River, encamping near Fort Lyon, Va., 
at Camp Randolph, so called in honor of Lieut. George E. 
Randolph, who a few days after assumed command of Bat- 
tery E. 

While Battery C was being recruited. Governor Sprague 
asked permission of the War Department to add two more 
batteries to the battalion, which request was granted, and in 
less than one week after Battery C left for the seat of war, 
Battery D was mustered into service under the command of 
Capt. J. Albert Monroe, who had been promoted from first 
lieutenant from Battery A. It reached Washington on Sep- 
tember 15th, remaining in Camp Sprague, perfecting its 
drill, until October 8th, on which date it crossed Long Bridge 
into Virginia and became a part of the division under the 
command of Gen. Fitz John Porter. It remained in camp 
at Upton's Hill until March, 1862. 

Two days before Battery D reached Washington the War 
Department granted Governor Sprague the privilege of in- 
creasing the number of Rhode Island batteries to eight, the 
whole to be known as the First Regiment Rhode Island 
Light Artillery. 

Before proceeding further with the artillery companies, I 
will refer briefly to the Fourth Rhode Island Infantry, whose 
first squad of recruits was sent into camp Sept. 5, 1861. It 
was organized under the command of Col. Justus I. McCarty, 
of the regular army, who was soon after superseded by Col. 
Isaac P. Rodman, and by the last of the month was reported 
full. No regiment that preceded it had been better drilled, 
and the expectations of its friends were never disappointed. 

The next in order of the Rhode Island troops was Bat- 
tery E. The battery was recruited at the armory of the 
Marine Corps of Artillery, on Benefit Street, Providence. 

The camp selected for the headquarters of the battery 
during its enlistment was the same as that occupied by the 
Fourth Regiment, Camp Greene, named in honor of Gen. 



4 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept.. 

Nathanael Greene, of Revolutionary fame. The camp was 
situated about eight miles from Providence, a short distance 
from what is now known as Hill's Grove, the Stonington 
railroad running just east of the camp. It was a level piece 
of land and well suited for the object for which it was used. 
It was a healthy and pleasant locality, w^ell situated for the 
transportation of troops, and easy of access for the friends 
of the soldiers, whose daily visits were a great pleasure to 
those who were about to leave home, perhaps never to 
return. 

The first squad was sent to camp September 5th, and con- 
sisted of four persons, namely : Francis B. Butts, Charles A. 
Brown, Silas A. Brown, and Charles E. White. For several 
days, according to the statement of Francis B. Butts, they 
had no duties to perform except to prepare for the recep- 
tion of additional recruits. They made themselves comfort- 
able, and sought amusement in any way they pleased. 

In a few days additional recruits were forwarded from Prov- 
idence, also guns, horses, and equipments, for the purpose of 
drilling the men. Capt. Henry B. Brastow was in command 
of the artillery part of the camp. 

Soon after the camp was instituted, William A. Arnold, 
who had asked for a commission in the artillery, was ordered 
to report to Captain Brastow^ Other men, who had expected 
to receive commissions, were occasionally present, among 
them being Walter O. Bartlett and John A. Perry. 

The battery was rapidly being filled and daily drilled in 
field and foot movements. William Millen, Amasa A. Dar- 
ling, Joseph S. Milne, Jacob H. Lamb, and others, who were 
expecting warrants as non-commissioned officers, assisted in 
drilling the recruits in the various artillery movements. 

After the battery was nearly full, Lieut. William A. Arnold 
was put in command of the men, and Captain Brastow com- 
menced the formation of another battery. John K. Buck- 
lyn was appointed acting quartermaster-sergeant by Lieu- 
tenant Arnold, which appointment was aftei'wards confirmed. 

On Tuesday, September 24th, Lieutenant Arnold received 
orders to move the battery near the city. The place selected 
was on the west side of Mashapaug Pond, near its northern 
termination, and was christened Camp Perry, in honor of 
Rev. John A. Perry, who was active in recruiting men for the 



iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. _ 5 

battery and who was soon after commissioned as one of its 
first lieutenants. 

The daily drills were continued as before, and the battery 
had now nearly completed its organization. It was at this 
camp that the writer dates the birth of his military experi- 
ence. The rations which were supplied to the men consisted 
principally of potatoes, corn beef, bread and coffee, and they 
were not always prepared with that regard to personal taste 
that many would desire. It was, doubtless, one of the iirst 
home sacrifices that they realized. The regard for cleanli- 
ness in its preparation, which we had seen at home, was too 
plainly omitted to suit us. 

As the time approached for the departure, permission to 
pay the last visits to their homes and friends was often asked 
by the men, which was seldom refused. Many of those who 
had families near by went home every night and returned to 
camp the next morning. The dear mother, and loving wife 
accompanied by her little ones, were daily seen in camp, ex- 
pecting every visit to be the last, and possibly the final 
"good bye" to a dear husband or son would be spoken. 
Only those who have experienced the soldier's parting " good 
bye " can realize the emotions of such a separation, and the 
members of Battery E were not long to remain without the 
experience, for September 30th, the day set for their being 
mustered into the United States service for three years, if 
not sooner discharged, had arrived. 

Previous to being sworn in, the men drew their uniforms 
from the quartermaster, and many of them realized that but 
little regard had been given to the size or form of its occu- 
pant, and no doubt many were not well pleased with their 
appearance. But there was no remedy, and they bore the 
dissatisfaction with as much grace as possible. 

On September 30th Col. Justus I. McCarty reported at 
the camp to muster in the battery. The men were formed 
into line, and the oath of fidelity to our superior officers and 
the demands of the service, was administered. After the 
regular muster, orders to leave for the seat of war were 
hourly expected. 

The fifteen dollars bounty promised by the State was paid 
us on the 4th of October, and not a few turned the small 
pittance over to their families, who doubtless were in need of 



6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

it, and, although we had disposed of it well, we soon learned 
that it would have been of great service to ourselves. 

In anticipation of future needs we began to supply our- 
selves with every conceivable article thought to be necessary 
during our service ; our knapsacks, of course, were not neg- 
lected, and their contents, if all were placed together, would 
have made quite an inventory for starting a small junk shop. 
To the supplies received from the quartermaster were added 
several pairs of socks, handkerchiefs by the half-dozen, 
needles, scissors, thread, buttons, bottle of ink, pens, envel- 
opes, portfolio filled with paper, brushes and shaving material. 
Some had Bibles from anxious friends, others carried a small 
photograph album filled with 77>zV^i- of dear and loving friends, 
and those who were smokers did not forget pipes, tobacco, 
etc. 

Add to these the necessary haversack filled with rations, 
supplemented with cakes, pies and cookies, obtained from 
home ; knife and fork, tin plate and cup, water filter and 
other supposed needed supplies for our new life, and the can- 
teen filled to suit the owner. Doubtless many thought that 
other articles should have been taken. What a contrast 
when compared with our stock on hand ten months later, 
when we were minus knapsack and contents, with nothing 
left but the suit of clothes on our back. 

Saturday, October 5th, came and with it the order to pack 
up and start for the seat of war. The "assembly" was 
sounded for the last time at Camp Perry, and, mounted upon 
our limber chests, we started, with the exception of the 
camp guard and a few others, on our journey. 

When we reached the city we were joined by the Fourth 
Regiment, who had previously arrived from Camp Greene, 
and with them marched through High, Westminster and 
South Main streets to Fox Point, where we embarked, the 
Fourth Regiment on the CommodoTc, and the battery on the 
Kill von KulL* At the wharf the battery was joined by the 
guard, who had left the camp shortly after the battery. 
During the march through the city the men were loudly 
cheered by their friends and citizens, and by them many a 
hearty wish was given for their safe return to friends and 
home. At five o'clock v. m. the lines were cast off, the boat 
swung slowly away from the wharf, and, amid the thundering 

* The Kill von Kiill was totally destroyed by tire at Elizabetliport. X. J., on the niijlit 
of March 3, 1SS9. It then bclonj^'od to the N'ew Jersey Central Railroad. 



i86i.] FIRST R, I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 7 

of cannon, mingled with tlie cheers and tears of our friends 
and relatives, we took our departure. 

That night will never be forgotten, at least by sons who 
had left behind them aged parents, or by fathers who left 
wife and children, who were dependent upon them for sup- 
port and protection. 

We passed the night as best we could under the gloom of 
separation from home, and the morning found us well on our 
way to New York. 

On our way up the sound, we were delayed by a hot shaft, 
and consequently did not reach New York until about noon, 
but we did not stop, going directly to Elizabethport, N. J., 
arriving there about the middle of Sunday afternoon. 

Boarding the cars on the Central Railroad, we slowly 
crossed the State of New Jersey, followed by the Fourth 
Regiment, and reached the Delaware River about sunset. 
Continuing our journey on the East Pennsylvania Railroad, 
we passed Allenton, thence to Reading on the Schuylkill 
River, reaching Harrisburg, Pa., at sunrise on Monday, the 
7th instant. We could see but little of the enterprising 
country through which we passed, except when the lightning 
revealed a glimpse of its grandeur. 

Taking the Susquehanna and Baltimore Railroad we fol- 
lowed the banks of the Susquehanna River for fifteen or 
twenty miles, then branching off we passed the town of York, 
and reached Baltimore about ten o'clock that night. 

Previous to reaching the city we were advised to put out 
our lights in the cars, and if any demonstrations of disloyalty 
were shown by the Baltimoreans in our passing through the 
city, to pay no attention to them, but to keep quiet and allow 
no insults to disturb us. No occasion to swallow our wrath 
occurred, for during our march in company with the Fourth 
Regiment, headed by their band with the venerable Joe 
Greene as leader, we were cheered on our way by as much 
apparent loyalty as we had received at any point on our way 
since leaving Providence. When we reached the Baltimore 
and Washington depot, we were again charged to be cautious 
and not buy any food from the venders at the depot. No 
doubt some of us saved what little change we had by listen- 
ing to the advice of our officers, but the greater part of the 
men concluded to practice their courage and attacked the 
much feared weapon of assassination. 



8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

The assault was vigorous and persistent, with no loss to us 
except a portion of pocket ammunition ; but it was uncalled 
for, as plenty of coffee and sandwiches were provided for us 
at the depot by the loyal citizens of that city. 

Remaining at the depot all night till five o'clock a. m. on the 
8th instant, we were then allowed to load ourselves into 
coaches and cattle cars, the latter being provided with tempo- 
rary seats, and, after a long delay, we slowly moved on towards 
Washington, which place, although but forty miles distant, was 
not reached untill three o'clock in the afternoon.. 

Immediately after leaving our coaches and cattle stalls, we 
were formed into line and marched to the well-known " Sol- 
dier's Rest," where we were not long in introducing ourselves 
to soap and water, the first acquaintance with those articles 
since leaving Rhode Island, seventy-two hours before. 

After cleansing ourselves from the coal dust of a three 
days' journey, we hastened to the tables well loaded with cold 
ham, bread, cheese and hot coffee, and, although they were not 
of the best quality, we did not fail to satisfy, for a few hours 
at least, a demanding appetite ; neither did we forget that our 
haversacks were not too well filled. Certainly we did not 
suffer for rations the next day. 

Our first glimpse of Washington was a great surprise, as 
we expected to see a city worthy of the great nation of which 
it was the capital. The condition of Washington was forcibly 
expressed in a sarcastic manner by one of our comrades, 
George W. H. Allen, in a paper written by him years after, 
from which I will quote : 

" Great Scott ! Mud and hogs seemed to be the principal 
products, and it looked as though it would be a public benefit 
for some one to carry it away, instead of sacrificing lives and 
money to save it." 

We expected to see more large buildings and mansions 
built upon wide and cleanly kept streets, more to the credit 
of this enterprising nation ; but, instead, we found the city 
full of filth and mud, and the streets stocked with hogs, 
goats, ducks, and geese, giving it the appearance of a country 
farm-yard. 

After our repast and disappointment with the view of the 
city, we were again ordered into line, and marched to Camp 
Sprague, the headquarters of the Rhode Island troops. 



iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



CHAPTER I I. 

October, 1861. 

Camp Sprague. 

WE found Camp Sprague to be partly located in a 
beautiful grove nearly a mile north of the city and 
about two from the capitol, with ample space ad- 
joining it for parade ground. The encampment was planned 
by Lieut. Henry A. De Witt, of the Engineers, the huts 
being built under the superintendence of Maj. William God- 
dard and Lieut. William R. Walker, all of the First Rhode 
Island Infantry, by which troops it was first occupied. 

The barracks for the men were built of boards in regular 
order, each company in line, and facing a street, at the head 
of which was a hut, with a quaint little porch, overlooking 
the camp, being the quarters of the company officers. In the 
grove, sheltered from the scorching summer sun, were erected 
rough cottages for the field and staff officers and a headquar- 
ters. These were the quarters of the First Rhode Island 
Regiment. At the south and closely adjacent to the above 
camp, was where the Second Rhode Island Infantry first went 
into camp. This part was called Camp Clark, so named 
after Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island. 

At the west, and in front of the whole, was a large level 
space used for company and regimental drills. Battery E 
occupied a row of barracks at the south of the camp, which 
previously had been the shelter of the First Battery. 

This camp was of the greatest interest to the members of 
Battery E, on account of the many anecdotes related of it 
by the members of the First Regiment, who returned home 
July 28th, having served out their term of enlistment.* 

"* The above description of C.imp Sprasrue is \n.ve;e\y copied, by permission, from a paper 
read Jan. 2, ii>?5, by Corp. Francis B. Butts, before the Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical 
Society, of Rhode Island. 



lO HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

When the battery arrived at the camp it was occupied by 
Battery D, but their stay was only until the twelfth of the 
month. During that time Battery E was what would be 
termed in civil life temporary boarders, but after Battery D 
left they became proprietors of the vacated barracks. 

During the passage from Rhode Island to Washington, the 
battery was under the temporary command of First Lieut. 
Walter O. Bartlett, the acting non-commissioned officers hav- 
ing been previously designated before leaving Providence, by 
Lieutenants Bartlett and Arnold. The commissioned officers 
held commissions dated Sept. 28, 1861, and all the lieuten- 
ants were commissioned as first lieutenants on the same date, 
as the following order will show : 

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plan'tations. 

Adjutant-General's Office, "(^ 

Providence, Sept. 28, 1S61. j 
General Order No. 67. 

George E. Randolph having been appointed captain, Walter O. Bart- 
lett, John A. Perry, William A. Arnold and George C. DeKay, first lieu- 
tenants in Battery E, ist Regiment R. I. Lt. Artillery, will report at once 
to Lieutenant-Colonel Reynolds for orders. 

By order of the Commandei"-in-Chief. 

Edward C. Mauran, 

Adjutant- General. 

Captain Randolph, who had been promoted from first lieu- 
tenant of Battery C, arrived in camp October loth, and as- 
sumed command on the i ith. At the hour for drill, the com- 
pany was formed in line and our new captain was introduced 
by Lieutenant Bartlett, in a few appropriate and well chosen 
words. During the time when the words of introduction 
were being spoken, every eye and ear waited with anxious 
hope or fear, to learn from the responding words of our 
youthful captain, something of what our future as a battery 
would probably be. We had but a moment to wait, when 
Captain Randolph, raismg his hat, spoke in a very modest 
way, such words as were appropriate for the occasion, and in 
conclusion made the remark : " I am proud to command such 
a body of men, and hope that you will always be proud of 




Capt. Geo. E. Randolph. 



iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. II 

me." How well his hopes were realized, no member of Bat- 
tery E who served under him, need be told, for there is not a 
man whose love and respect are desirable, but will say that 
not a word spoken, nor an act done by him during his com- 
mand, failed to meet the approval of the officers and men un- 
der his charge. 

At the time of taking command, Captain Randolph was 
only twenty-one years of age, and having had but four months' 
experience as first sergeant and second lieutenant in Battery 
A, and two weeks as first lieutenant in Battery C, he had 
reason to be proud of his success. The admiration of the 
men for him as a commander was no more than their love 
for him as a man, for he possessed all the qualities required 
to make a noble man and a good citizen. 

The day after our arrival at Camp Sprague (October 9th) 
the battery was divided into seven detachments, the seventh 
being made up of artificers and spare men. A gun detach- 
ment is composed of two corporals and seven privates, com- 
manded by the gunner. "When the cannoneers and drivers 
attached to a piece are assembled in rank and file formation, 
they constitute a platoon, which is commanded by a ser- 
geant." Including the drivers and extra cannoneers there 
were usually about twenty men attached to each gun, which, 
for general purposes, was also called a detachment. 

Before the men were selected to form the several detach- 
ments, the sergeants had an understanding between them- 
selves as to the composition in part, at least, of their respec- 
tive commands. The method of selecting the members was 
similar to that used at country spelling schools, the first ser- 
geant choosing the first, the second sergeant the next, and so 
on, until the detachments were completed; the result being 
that the sixth detachment was composed entirely of men who 
had enlisted from the town of Scituate. 



12 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

The roster of the battery, after being completed, was as 
follows : 

Captain — George E. Randolph. 

First Lieutenants — Walter O. Bartlett, right section. 

John A. Perry, centre section. 

William A. Arnold, left section. 

Pardon S. Jastram, chief of caissons. 
First Sergeant — William E Bo wen. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant — John K. Bucklyn. 

George C. DeKay declined the commission as first lieu- 
tenant, and Pardon S. Jastram was commissioned October 
1 6th, to fill the vacancy. 

The descriptive lists of the first and second detachments 
are missing, but the names given are copied from First Sergt. 
William E. Bowen's detachment book. The sergeants were 
mustered as such Sept. 30, 1861. Corporals Butts, Brown, 
Trescott, Tanner, Mathewson, Gardiner, and C. P. Williams, 
were mustered as corporals on the same date. Corporals 
Darling, Hargraves, Lord, Burlingham, and Hale, were not 
promoted until November ist, but all were acting as such 
except Hale from October nth. 

First Detachment. 

Sergeant — Jacob H. Lamb. 

Corporals — Francis B. Butt.s, Seth B. Darlinc;. 

Privates. 

Silas A. Brown, James Mulligan, 

Martin Brown, Richard Poynton, 

John Carr, Richard Russell, 

Richard Conley, Adolphus Strausman, 

John Crothers, Robert Sutcliffe, 
Adelbert a. Fairb.\nks, Tho>l\s Waterhouse, 

John Hoi.i-v, Charles Y.. White. 
William |. Kellers, 



)S6i.] 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Second Detachment. 



13 



Sergeant — James F. Allen. 

Corporals — Albert H. Trescott, George F. Lord. 



Privates. 



Herbert F. Bennett, 
William S. Blair, 
William H. Cartwright, 
Jerahmeel Dexter, 
Gamaliel B. Goff, 
William E. Hooper, 
Thomas Lever, 



Emory W. Marble, 
Richard Rose, 
William Smith, 
Palmer B. Taylor, 
William Torpy, 
Charles S. Winslow, 
Henry Binns. 



Third Detachment. 



Sergeant- 
Corporals- 



-Amasa a. Darling. 
-James A. Tanner, 



Halliton p. Hale. 



Privates. 



Sylvester Can a van, 
George W. Coville, 
William Crothers, 
Joseph F. Devens, 
George Humphrey, 
Michael C. Hughes, 
John Martin, 
Michael McKenna. 



Charles A. Mulick, 
Thomas Nolan, 
Thomas H. Potter, 
John Riley, 
William H. Steere, 
Edson Walcott, 
Henry Williams, 
Albert B, Wilson. 



Fourth Detachment. 

Sergeant — William Millen. 

Corporals — Charles A. Brown, Arthur W. Hargraves. 



Privates. 



Thomas T. Beard, 
Almy M. Brownell, 
James Donnelly, 
Bartholomew Fitzgerald, 



John McAlees, 
John J. Mulhall, 
Israel Riley, 
John Ryan. 



H 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



[Oct. 



Privates. 

Joseph Harrop, Ernest Simpson, 

John VV. Hollahan, Lowry Strait, 

Alba Hopkins, James H. Walsh. 
Thomas Keenan, 

Fifth Detachment. 

Sergeant — Joseph S. Milne. 

Corporals — John B. Mathewson, George H. Burlingham. 



Privtaes. 



William H. Bailey, 
Edward A. Chandler, 
Philip A. Dexter, 
George W. Fisk, 
Lester S. Hill, 
Henry S. Holloway, 
Thomas Joslin, 
George Lewis, 



Nelson Lovell, 
David H. Macomber, 
Elias H. Mathewson, 
George H. Pierce, 
William H. Polk, 
Benjamin N. Remington, 
James Sterling. 



Sixth Detachment. 

Sergeant — George E. Williams. 

Corporals — Allen Gardiner, Charles P. Williams. 



Privates. 



George W. H. Allen, 
Edward Austin, 
John M. Battey, 
Frederick L. Burden, 
John Colvin, 
Albert N. Colwell, 
Lemuel A. Greene, 
Samuel H.\nxey, Jr., 



Albert A. Hopkins, 
Elisha Potter, 
Jeremiah Potter, 
Alfred B. Ramsdell, 
John F. Simmons, 
Thomas W. Simmons, 
Squire B. Tucker, 
Gilbert A. Weaver. 



Seventh Detachmetit. 

Artificers. 

David H. Colvix and Otis John H. Carney, Carriage- 

B. Jencks, Blacksmiths, maker, 

Asa Wilson and Nathan C. Joseph D. Hanev, Farrier. 

Lazelle, Harness-makers, 



i86i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 5 

Spare Men. 

Jeremiah Bennett, John McKenna, Bugler, 

John R. Brayton, William H. Mulick, 

Charles Durfee, William M. Straight, 

John F. Keegan, Henry C. Wightman, 
George Maxfield, afterwards Carriage-maker. 

Officers Cooks. 
Isaac Cook, John Hilton. 

After the detachments had been fully organized, the men 
were drilled at the various foot movements belonging to the 
artillery service. We received our horses on Saturday, the 
1 2th. The next day we changed our temporary quarters to 
those left the day before by Battery D, which had been or- 
dered to cross the Potomac. 

Our new quarters were an improvement on our former 
ones, the bunks being arranged in four tiers around the sides 
of the barracks, there being twenty-five in each. It was well 
that nature designed us to sleep with our eyes closed, for 
the dust falling from the bunks over our heads would have 
made it very annoying had it been otherwise. 

October 14th the harnesses were fitted to our horses, and 
on the 17th we received four ten-pounder Parrott guns, and 
drew our dress jackets and hats. The latter were made of felt, 
somewhat after the Kossuth pattern, one side of the rim 
being rolled up and fastened to the side of the crown. 
While they were useful in protecting us from the sun, they 
were not convenient to carry on the march, and they were 
soon discarded. 

The 1 8th of October opened with showers, but it was a day 
which gave us the pleasure of visiting the Second Rhode 
Island Regiment at Camp Brightwood, where a beautiful flag 
was presented them by the Rhode Island citizens of Califor- 
nia. President Lincoln, Governor Sprague, and Bishop Clark, 
of Rhode Island, and other distinguished persons, were present, 
as was also the Fourth Rhode Island Infantry. The Presi- 
dent and Bishop Clark made eloquent addresses. The exer- 
cises were closed by the singing of the Do.xology. We re- 
turned to our camp highly pleased with the ceremonies which 
we had witnessed. 



1 6' HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

On the 19th we sent to Washington and obtained two 
twelve-pounder howitzer guns, which completed the equip- 
ment of the battery. Maj. Alexander S. Webb, of the First 
Rhode Island Light Artillery, reviewed us on the 20th ; and 
on the 27th we were again reviewed by Gen. William F. 
Barry, chief of artillery, assisted by Maj. A. S. Webb. 

During the remainder of our stay at Camp Sprague our 
time was spent in field and manual drills and in perfecting 
ourselves for active duties. 

Passes were given the men, as far as the duties of the ser- 
vice would permit, to visit Washington and other places of 
interest. The White House, Patent Office, Capitol, Post 
Office, War and Treasury Departments, Washington Monu- 
ment, Willard's and National Hotels, and the Smithsonian 
Institute were among the places visited. 

Our amusements in camp were in social pleasures, card 
playing, and occasionally singing of hymns and songs, the 
latter not being, perhaps, such as our civil deacons would 
sanction. However that may be, they were, doubtless, the 
only ones available. 

During the stay at Camp Sprague the men were gener- 
ally anxious to perfect themselves in all the duties belonging 
to the soldier's life, not forgetting the art of foraging. In 
reference to the latter an incident is remembered by the 
writer. Corp. J. B. Mathewson, of the fifth detachment, 
having introduced himself to a garden in the absence 
of the owner, and knowing that his comrades would also like 
some vegetables, he brought a supply to camp, and buried it 
under the floor of the barracks. After the morning inspec- 
tion by the officers it was exhumed, cooked, and duly dis- 
posed of by the corporal and his companions. 



iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I 7 



CH A PTER III. 

October 29, 1861, to March 14, 1862. 
Camp Webb and Artillery Camp. 

AT eight o'clock a. m. on the 29th we hitched up and 
started for Dixie's land, passing through Washington, 
over Long Bridge, and through Alexandria, in the lat- 
ter place passing the Marshall House, where the brave Col. 
Ephraim Elmer Ellsworth was shot dead by the proprietor 
for taking down a rebel flag that was floating over the roof. 
After passing through the uninviting city, we crossed Hunt- 
er's Creek, and proceeded about a mile, when we entered a 
field and encamped. It was in this camp that our first experi- 
ence with Virginia mud began. We remained here in " Camp 
Mud," as we called it, four days, waiting until a better place 
could be selected for a permanent camp. The first night we 
had no tents pitched, and had to sleep, or, rather, tried to 
sleep, under tarpaulins spread over the guns ; but the next 
day (30th), we pitched our tents, arranged the grounds around 
them, and made ourselves as comfortable as possible. On the 
31st we were formally mustered into General Heintzelman's 
division, Governor Sprague being present at the ceremonies. 

Our first drill in Virginia was on November ist, on which 
day our first accident also occurred, Corp. John B. Mathew- 
son being run over by the piece during the drill. He was, 
however, but slightly hurt. 

November 2d. Raining in torrents. The first blood by 
our battery was shed to-day. A Confederate pig came around 
to investigate, but he never returned to make his report. Of 
course nobody had killed it when the owner, a Mr. Fairfax, 
made a demand for its value, but it never was seen again as a 
pig, and the men had fresh pork for rations that night. Lieu- 
tenant Arnold, who was officer of the day, gave the battery 



'"^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

deran'd ol'fhr ^°' '^"'' P^?"^^^^'^^ '^^^- He said that the 
hrworrlinl r"''«"'"'' ^' '°"^P^'^^ with, and to make 
his word good, the officers very generously paid their share 
as, doijbtless, they should. The' day following (3d) was Sun- 
day, which as a general rule, gives no rest tol soldier This 
was specially true with us, for we were ordered to move ou? 
camp a short distance upon higher ground. The new camo 
was called ''Camp Webb," after Major Webb, of the Fi s 
Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, and we were al 
highly pleased with the change of location 

Another accident occurred to-day, Charles S. Winslow 

S^ ^^K ^ u V^" ^">"^ ^y "^ h^'"^^ ^"d his forehead quite 
badly cut by the horse's shoe. The battery was honored o' 
day by a visit from Jabez C. Knight, Mayor of Providence 
vvho was bounty paymaster, with the rank of colonel f"; 

during the. following week, but the field and manual drills 
were continued daily. Our camp was completed and made 
quite peasant, the officers having floors laid' in their tents! 
but as our stay was not expected to be of long duration no 
e.xtra arrangements were attempted. The few days of com 

RhodJ'l.T"'! f "' '^' "^'" ^" opportunity to visit^such oth" r 
Rhode Island troops as were encamped within visitin^x dis- 
tance. Priends at home were not forgotten, as they we?e a 

ourmre'irif""''° i'^'" ''■'''' --eme^ts. and' some of 
our more lucky comrades received boxes of provisions from 

sp^rcfaltieiKir^^^ ^^uly appreciated by the r^eiver "a^i JTs 

thS^ ^m"" ^^^- S''}^'' ^ ^^'S*^ ^^^t^^' o^ ni^^n were sent about 
three miles with baggage wagons, after some unhusked co n 

h" ;V "'f^^'^^^^r"^ '° ^ '^^^^ "'-^"^^^^1 Johnston, said to be a 
brother of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. The corn had to be 
husked before returning, but before the task was accom- 
pished It began to rain, and the men had to go back to 
camp in the storm getting thoroughly wet through. 

Uur first Sunday morning review since leavin- Camo 

bein'fSnt°t ''''%T ""'"^^"'^^ ^°^^^' ^^^ ^^---"^ offi er 

S?^ fs A Hi/ ''rT'T^''°c"' "^ ^^""'"''y G. Second\Tnited 

brLtitnaL^Periy." '''' ^^"^'^^y — n was also preached 

Previous to this, on October 15th, the Army of the Poto- 



i86i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 9 

mac was organized into divisions and independent commands 
as follows : 

First division, Brig.-Gen. George Stoneman's cavalry com- 
mand. 

Second division, Col. Henry J. Hunt's artillery reserve. 

Third division, Brig.-Gen. Andrew Porter's City Guards. 

The other divisions of the army were commanded respect- 
ively by Generals Banks, McDowell, Heintzelman, Fitz J. 
Porter, Franklin, Stone, Buell, McCall, Hooker, Blenker, and 
Smith. Brigadier-General Montgomery commanded the forts 
about Washington, and Gen. John A. Dix a division at Balti- 
more. Battery E was assigned to Gen. Samuel P. Heintzel- 
man's division, which was composed of the following com- 
mands : 

First New Jersey Cavalry, Colonel Halstead ; Battery G, 
Second United States Artillery, Capt. James Thompson. 
General Richardson's brigade : Second, Third and Fifth 
Michigan, and Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers. Gen- 
eral Sedgwick's brigade : Third and Fourth Maine and Thirty- 
eighth and Fortieth New York Volunteers. General Jame- 
son's brigade : Thirty-second, Sixty-third, Sixty-first and 
Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Wild Cat Reserves 
(Pennsylvania Volunteers). 

On November nth. Captain Thompson of the regulars, 
who commanded the division artillery, drilled Battery E, and 
gave us some regular army styles, but owing to his imperious 
manner his efforts were not appreciated. The battery was 
paid to-day for October, partly in silver, the first and last in 
specie during the war. 

On the 1 2th a new experience was in store for us. About 
three a. m. "boots and saddles" aroused us from our quiet 
slurnbers. Notwithstanding the unexpected call, any kind of 
movement was welcome, even if for nothing more than a 
change. After a hastily prepared breakfast of hard tack and 
coffee, with one day's rations in our haversacks, we left 
camp, not knowing where we were going nor for what pur- 
pose the move was made. Before starting our captain ad- 
dressed a few words to the battery, in which he expressed a 
hope that, should it be necessary to go into action, every 
man would manifest the quality of a brave and loyal soldier. 



20 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

Our course was in a southwest direction, and it was not 
until daylight that we were aware that Richardson's and 
Jameson's infantry were with us. Companies G and E of 
the Lincoln Cavalry also joined us. We marched towards 
the Pohick church in company with Richardson's brigade 
until within about three miles of the church, when we were 
detached with the Thirty-seventh New York and the Third 
Michigan regiments under the command of Colonel Hay- 
man of the Thirty-seventh, and ordered to take the road 
branching to the left, which led us to Accotink Village. We 
then took the right hand road, which brought us to Pohick 
church, arriving there about eleven a. m., where we found 
the rest of the brigade waiting for us. As soon as we 
arrived, Colonel Hayman, with his regiment and a company 
of cavalry, made a reconnoissance to Colchester, about five 
miles farther on. Colonel Terry, with his Fifth Michigan, 
four pieces of Thompson's battery and one company of cav- 
alry, went as far as Occoquan Village, a distance of about six 
miles from Pohick church on the Occoquan River. No 
enemy was found by Colonel Hayman, but Colonel Terry 
found a small force of cavalry and infantry, who quickly 
retired. Our troops were then ordered back to camp. While 
on our return Captain Thompson filed out into an open field 
and fired a few blank cartridges, remarking to Captain Ran- 
dolph, by way of explanation, that " if he could not be seen 
by the rebels they should hear him." The reason for this 
movement was owing to General Heintzelman having sent 
out the day before two small parties of cavalry to recon- 
noitre. On their return they reported that the rebels with 
four hundred cavalry and two regiments of infantry were 
encamped near Pohick church. Having learned this fact he 
telegraphed to headquarters for authority to disperse them, 
which was granted. The Union loss was slight. Capt. 
Henry B. Todd, one sergeant and four privates, all of the 
P'irst New York Cavalry, were taken prisoners, and two 
wounded. One of the wounded died soon after. The officers 
and men were somewhat disappointed in not meeting the 
enemy, as they desired to test their quality as soldiers. 

The next day the men were somewhat tired after their long 
march, nevertheless a large detail was sent about three 
miles with teams after corn, whish had to be husked before 



iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 2 1 

loading. It was something new to the city boys to become 
farmers, but the change from the monotony of camp life was 
quite agreeable. For several days following we had only our 
regular drills and camp duties to perform, of which oiling and 
washing harnesses and carriages was a part. 

Passes to Alexandria and to Rhode Island regiments near 
by were given daily to a few, generally to those who had 
been on guard the day before. Our Reverend Lieutenant 
Perry preached to us another sermon on the 17th. A tem- 
porary choir was improvised for the occasion, consisting of 
corporals Williams and Gardner, privates Hill and Lewis, 
and others whose names are not remembered. Doubtless it 
added slightly to the interest of the service, although the in- 
terest in Sunday sermons was not so general as many would 
have desired. 

On the 1 8th Corporal Hale was reduced to the ranks for 
drunkenness and pugilistic conduct. He was not a Rhode 
Islander, but joined the battery soon after our arrival in Wash- 
ington. He was a man of some capacity, but had an unusual 
amount of self-conceit, and, when intoxicated, he had, in his 
own estimation, but few superiors. Private George W. H. 
Allen was promoted to fill the vacancy. 

We were daily receiving luxuries from home, and happy 
the man who was the special friend of the receiver. The rest 
of us felt very much as the smaller canines do when the 
larger mastiff stands guard over his rations. 

November 20th we witnessed one of the most imposing 
military reviews that had ever taken place within the history 
of the nation. It occurred near Bailey's Cross Roads, 
which is about eight miles from Washington, at the junction 
of the Columbia, Alexandria and Leesburg turnpike. About 
one and half miles beyond the cross road a plain nearly two 
miles in length had been prepared by filling up the ditches 
and removing the fences for this display. The review was 
under the immediate charge of General McDowell.* 

The day before the review, an order was issued to all the 
regiments to carry forty rounds of cartridges, and to have one 
ambulance and all the surgical implements necesssary for a 
campaign. This order naturally caused much speculation as 
to the object of this movement. It was afterwards learned 

* Set- Rhode Island in the Kchellion, by Stone, page 3. 



2 2 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

that it was only a precautionary measure against a possible 
attack by the enemy. 

About 6.30 A. M. we left camp accompanied by all the army 
of the Potomac (except a strong guard left in charge of 
each camp) and moved forward toward the reviewing ground, 
which was reached about ten o'clock.. Several divisions had 
arrived before us and were followed by continuous columns 
until after eleven o'clock, at which time there were present 
seventy-six regiments of infantry, seventeen batteries, and 
seven regiments of cavalry. President Lincoln arrived about 
eleven o'clock accompanied by his Cabinet, also by Mrs. 
McDowell and two daughters of General Taylor. They were 
soon joined by General McClellan and his staff. Besides the 
military officers present, there were from twenty to thirty 
thousand citizens of all grades, having come by every possible 
mode of conveyance. Quite conspicuous among those pre- 
sent, were the Prince de Joinville, Mrs. Lincoln and many of 
the families of the generals and high officials, besides many 
foreign ministers. There were three Rhode Island batteries 
present, C, D, and E, and fifty or more bands, the martial 
music of which was of the best order and added greatly to 
the enjoyment of the occasion. 

Everything being in readiness a salute to the president 
and general-in-chief was fired by four batteries, of which 
Battery E was one, after which the column started and passed 
the reviewing stand in the following order, viz. : General 
McCall's division, composed of the brigades of Generals 
Meade, Reynolds, and Ord ; General Heintzelman's division 
composed of Generals Sedgwick's, Jameson's and Richardson's 
brigades ; General Smith's division composed of Generals 
Hancock's, Brooks' and Benham's brigades ; General Frank- 
lin's division composed of Generals Slocum's, Newton's and 
Kearny's brigades ; General Blenker's division composed of 
Generals Stahl's brigade and two brigades commanded by 
senior colonels ; Gen. Fitz John Porter's division composed 
of the brigades of Generals Merrill, Martindale and Butter- 
field ; General McDowell's division composed of the brigades 
Generals King and Wadsworth, and a brigade commanded 
by Colonel Frisbie. 

The time in j^assing was about three hours. The troops 
were in the best of spirits and manifested much enthusiasm 



iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 23 

while the general-in-chief and staff were passing in review. 
The review ended, the regiments and batteries marched back 
to their camps having passed one of the most enjoyable days 
since their enlistment. 

The day following, the review it was rumored about camp 
that we were to move our camp and go into winter quarters, 
as all hope of any forward movement until spring, had van- 
ished. It was hoped that the rumor would prove to be a fact. 
We had thus far, since leaving Camp Sprague had only A 
tents in which only four men could sleep, and the only place 
where one could stand erect was in the middle of the tent. 
As our well known and popular physician, Lester S. Hill, who 
was then only a young man of seventeen, expressed it, " at 
night when we turned over, one said ' flop ' and all turned at 
once." To the civilian this may seem to be an exaggeration, 
but to the soldier it was a common experience. 

November 22d the order to change camp came and a gen- 
eral house breaking followed. All of our traps were packed 
and we started eastward and went about one mile and halted 
at what was known afterwards as Artillery Camp. There 
were during the following winter three batteries in this camp, 
Battery E taking the north, Captain Beam's Battery B of 
New Jersey taking the east, and Capt. James Thompson's 
Battery G, regulars, taking the centre. The ground was 
partially covered with small trees and shrubs, which had to be 
cleared. The camp was on high ground sloping towards the 
east. A short distance in front of the camp was a small 
stream at which we watered our horses. On the west the 
camp was bordered by woodla.nd which gradually disappeared, 
it being cut for camp uses. A ravine, starting near the north 
end of the camp and runnmg at right angles to the river, 
formed a boundary to the grounds in front' of the camp on 
the north. Several springs of water were located in the 
ravine from which we generally supplied ourselves with water 
for drinking and cooking purposes. Our horses were picketed 
for the first two weeks north of the camp, but during the first 
week in December our picket line was moved to the front of 
the camp. A short time after a roof was built of poles and 
covered with pine and cedar boughs, but soon after it was 
covered with boards. The north side of the stable was hedged 
with pine and cedar boughs also, which made an excellent 



24 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

protection for our horses from the cold winds and stormy- 
weather. Our officers were suppHed with wall tents, situated 
in rear of and overlooking the camp. The first sergeant and 
quartermaster's tent being in line with the officers'. 

For several days after changing camp we were kept busy 
in making our quarters comfortable. We had hoped for bet- 
ter tents than we had previously used but we were for a while 
disappointed ; those who were disposed dug a trench from 
the inside of the tent to a short distance outside, and covered 
it over with stones and dirt and built a chimney at the outer 
end, leaving an opening at the inside end of the trench which 
was used as a fire-place. 

Those of us who had lived in the country saw quite a simi- 
larity between our fire apparatus and that used for smoking 
hams, and, if we could have been supplied with that swinish 
article, we doubtless would have so employed it. 

The guard system was changed after moving to this camp, 
from a battery to one of camp guard, detailed from the three 
batteries. This put us more under the command of Captain 
Thompson, of the regulars, who was not liked by the men of 
Battery E. His harsh manner and brazen profanity were very- 
repulsive, even to his own officers. It was no uncommon thing 
to see him on drill so intoxicated that it was with some effort 
that he could sit upright upon his horse. We were frequently 
drilled by Captain Thompson in company with his and Cap- 
tain Beam's battery. Of course this necessarily produced 
some effort to excel each other, and if good judges were cor- 
rect. Battery E was found equal, if not superior, in drill and 
discipline, not excepting the regulars. 

November 28th being Thanksgiving, Battery E and other 
Rhode Island troops were made happy by the practical kind- 
ness of friends at home. We received i 50 pounds of turkey 
sent by the good people of Rhode Island. The next day we 
enjoyed a feast of roast turkey, minus the fixings. 

December ist. The guard commenced the system of grand 
rounds which we thought quite useless, at least for artillery. 

December 6th. Our first practice at target shooting oc- 
curred to-day. A pile of rails ten feet wide was erected one 
mile distant to serve as a target. Lieutenant Perry bore 
off the honors for the best shot. 



iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 25 

December 9th. We were again visited by Col. Jabez C. 
Knight, mayor of Providence, who expressed himself well 
pleased with our situation. 

December iith. We were aroused from our slumbers at 
five A. M. by the bugle sounding "Boots and Saddles," and 
were soon on our way towards the enemy in company with 
the Fortieth New York and the Third Michigan regiments of 
infantry. We went some five or six miles when orders were 
received to return to camp, where we arrived about eleven a. m. 
The movement was caused by a demonstration of the enemy 
on our picket line. 

The next day we were ordered to go out on another target 
practice at the same place as before. We were accompanied 
by Mrs. Charlotte F. Dailey, wife of Albert Dailey, a well- 
known lumber dealer of Providence. She was escorted by a 
lieutenant of some regiment. Mrs. Dailey, who was colonel 
upon Governor Sprague's staff, and wore the eagles upon 
her shoulders, was appointed by the governor to visit the 
hospitals in and around Washington and Alexandria and to 
look after the welfare of sick Rhode Island soldiers. During 
her term of service she visited sixty-one hospitals, where her 
noble influence was highly appreciated and many a sick sol- 
dier had his lonesome hours made happier by her presence. 
The writer had the pleasure of making her acquaintance years 
after the war ended. A nobler and braver woman is seldom 
met. 

During the following week there being no special work ex- 
cept the usual camp duties, the men were allowed to visit the 
Fourth Rhode Island Regiment and other places of interest. 
Alexandria being near by it was often visited for various pur- 
poses, usually to purchase rations such as could not be had 
in camp. The places of interest in Alexandria were few and 
of such a character as not to invite much interest. The Old 
Market, Museum, and Liberty Hall, are excepted. We all 
desired to visit Mount Vernon, the home of Washington, but 
the distance was so great, being nine miles below Alexandria, 
that but few could get permits to go. Among the few en- 
listed men who were lucky enough to get passes were Cor- 
porals Gardiner and Williams, Sergeants J. F. Allen and 
Milne, Privates Hill, Humphrey and Lewis, and a few others. 
The writer has often thouo;ht that it would have been no more 



26 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

than justice if every regiment desiring to visit the home of 
the Father of his Country, should have been permitted to 
visit the place in rotation. No harm could have come from 
it, but much satisfaction and loyalty inspired by the pilgrim- 
age. To see the tomb and sarcophagus which contained the 
mortal remains of Washington was a privilege eagerly sought. 
Many relics were to be seen about the house and yard, among 
them being an old sofa, chair, and table, and platter, all of 
which were used by Washington. A musical instrument, not 
used at the present day, was one of the attractive relics. An 
old knapsack, used by Washington, was of very great interest 
to the soldiers. An old iron mortar, which stood in the yard, 
was not to be overlooked. A drink from the well was not 
forgotten, although the water was not palatable. Most of 
the rooms used by Washington were kept empty and always 
open to visitors. 

Fort Washington, on the opposite side of the Potomac 
River, is 900 rods distant. The river opposite the mansion 
is 385 rods wide. The Mount Vernon estate contains about 
thirteen hundred acres. In the entry there hung a chart, 
giving the names of the different parts and buildings on the 
estate. The old flour mill, which .was the last place Wash- 
ington visited previous to his death, was three miles distant. 
This, of course, we did not see. The various epitaphs on the 
monuments near the tomb were in themselves a history. Af- 
ter spending several hours we started for camp feeling deeply 
the sacred impressions derived from a visit to this Mecca of 
America. 

December i8th. Many of the boys had a revival of their 
school days in a game of ball. These amusements had much 
to do in preventing us from being homesick, and were pro- 
ductive, also, of health and happiness. 

December 19th. Another review. This time it was only 
Heintzelman's division. The review was about three miles 
from -camp. Eleven regiments of infantry, three batteries 
and one regiment of cavalry were present. Generals Heint- 
zelman, Richardson and Sedgwick were the reviewing officers. 

December 24th. Each detachment commenced building 
their Sibley tents. Logs were drawn from the environments 
of Fort Lyon, which had been cut down to give the guns bet- 
ter range. The logs were then cut about eisrht feet long and 



i86i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 27 

split in two parts, then set close together endways, in a ditch, 
which was dug three feet deep, in a circle about eighteen 
feet in diameter, and then the dirt was tamped securely 
around them. The cracks between the logs were plastered 
up with "Virginia" mud. On the "top of these logs the 
tents were placed and securely fastened by guy ropes fastened 
to stakes driven into the ground. Seven bunks were ar- 
ranged around the inside of the tents, the head being wider 
than the foot. A stove, somewhat like a cone, stood like a 
ring master in the centre of the tent, whose smoky antics 
were anything but agreeable. At the end of four days the 
tents were finished. Our quarters were now very comfort- 
able, although the number in the tent interfered somewhat 
with the selection of congenial companions. 

The general character of the men in Battery E was such 
that but very few were unwelcome as comrades. A guard- 
house during our stay here was uncalled for. Seldom was a 
comrade seen drunk, and all rules and regulations were, in the 
main, cheerfully obeyed. 

December 29th. The writer was excused from duty on ac- 
count of sickness, which resulted in a regular run of typhoid 
fever. Comrade Chandler was also sick, and for the ne.xt si.\ 
weeks we were very useless members of the battery. The 
last day of 1861 the officers celebrated by having new quar- 
ters built for themselves. We were now fully equipped for 
a winter campaign of idleness. 

January 2d, 1862. Twenty-one new horses were received 
in exchange for as many condemned as being unfit for ser- 
vice. 

January 9th. The first furlough granted since entering 
the service was received by Lieut. J. A. Perry. 

January nth. The welcome paymaster arrived on his 
second official visit, he paying us for November and Decem- 
ber. The battle now commenced between the appetite and 
the pocket, the former winning the honors. Those having 
families had to fight a different foe. The struggle with them 
was self or family, and generally the family was the winner. 

On January i6th our first recruits arrived. Their names 
were James Maguire, David P. Riley, Alexander Merchant, 
Benjamin Nickerson, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Shaw, John 
Slaver, Charles Moore, Leonard Steamer, Martin Harvey, 



28 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [J;in., 

and Moses L. Wigglesworth. John Jordan, who should have 
come with these, arrived a short time after. 

January 20th. Governor Sprague called to-day and ex- 
pressed himself well pleased with the condition of the bat- 
tery. 

January 22d. Corp. John B. Mathewson died of typhoid 
fever, having been sick only ten days. His body was sent to 
Alexandria from here. His friends conveyed it to Nayatt, 
R. I., where he belonged. He was a young man of eighteen 
years, over six feet tall, possessed of a robust constitution, 
full of life and ready for any emergency ; a cordial and con- 
genial companion, and the last man that we should have se- 
lected to die first. He belonged to the fifth detachment. 

January 25th. The knapsacks which were given to us at 
the beginning of the service were condemned. A few days 
after the regular army knapsack was substituted. Those who 
first enlisted will remember the first knapsack, which had a 
patent canteen fastened to the under side of the knapsack, 
one end of it being connected with a rubber tube which 
passed under the left arm, with a filtering mouthpiece through 
which we drew the water from the canteen. A fireman would 
have called it a suction hose. In theory it was apparently a 
nice arrangement, but practically it was worthless. 

January 26th. Second Corp. George H. Burlingham was 
promoted gunner, vice Mathewson, deceased. Second Corp. 
George W. H. Allen, of the third detachment, was trans- 
ferred to the fifth, in the place of Burlingham. Private 
Ernest Simpson was promoted to second corporal and as- 
signed to third detachment, vice Allen transferred. 

January 31st. First. Lieut. Walter O. Bartlett having re- 
ceived a commission dated January 24th, as captain of Battery 
B, left us to assume his more responsible duties. His loss 
to the battery was deeply regretted, especially by the right 
section, which he commanded. Before taking his departure 
he was presented with a field glass by the members of the 
battery as a small token of the respect and esteem in which 
he was held by them. Lieut. John A. Perry having received 
a commission dated January 13th, as chaplain of the First 
Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, two vacancies were 
made in the battery. Lieut. Israel R. Sheldon having re- 
ceived a commission dated |anuar\' gth, was assigned to the 




Capt. Walter O. Bartlett. 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 29 

battery. He arrived the same day that Bartlett left. This 
made a complete change in the section commanders. Lieu- 
tenant Arnold, who had command of the centre section, was 
transferred to the right, Lieutenant Jastram taking the left, 
and Sheldon the centre section. 

During the first three weeks in February nothing of spe- 
cial interest occurred, the regular camp and guard duties be- 
ing the only service required. This left us plenty of time to 
amuse ourselves as we thought best. 

From the middle of January to the 23d of February there 
had been only ten clear days, the remaining ones being cloudy 
and stormy, causing the ground to be unfit for field drill. 
A supply of boots was received from Rhode Island which we 
highly appreciated. The mud around our camp was so deep 
that it was no uncommon affair that in attempting to walk 
through it our boots would be left standing in the mud. 
Through this mud we had to go whenever we watered our 
horses, which greatly increased the labor of grooming. 

The springs from which we obtained our supply of water 
for cooking were overflowed from the constant rain, making 
it necessary to go a long distance to obtain a supply of pure 
water. The close proximity of the stables to the spring was 
another source of trouble to the water. The effect of this 
could be tasted in our rations of coffee, but this was some- 
times partially removed by adding a few drops of pepper- 
mint. 

On the 20th an order from headquarters compelled all the 
men to be vaccinated ; this caused some grumbling, but its 
demand was imperative. Several more target practices were 
had during the month. Our Sunday reviews were seldom 
neglected, which kept us from getting rusty. 

On the 24th another alarm came in from our picket line at 
Lewis chapel, about a mile beyond Pohick church. Two regi- 
ments of infantry from Richardson's brigade and our battery 
were sent as their support should they need any. Our bat- 
tery went only as far as Winsor's Hill. From its great height 
we could overlook the surrounding country for miles. In the 
distance we could see our infantry seeking to find the enemy, 
but none were found. In the meantime our guns were 
masked and trees were cut down to give us a clear range at 
the enemy should they come to receive the salute prepared 



30 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Feb., 

for them. After waiting an hour or two we were ordered to 
return to camp. When we had nearly reached there an 
order came for the left section to return, which was promptly 
obeyed. On reaching the hill, the alarm being over, the 
section was again ordered to camp. When we left camp in 
the morning the weather was warm and the roads quite 
muddy. As the day passed it grew cold and the wind in- 
creased almost to a gale, the ground becoming partially frozen 
and treacherous. The condition of the roads made it exceed- 
ingly tiresome to travel. Our ankles became sore by con- 
stantly breaking through the half frozen mud and stumbling 
into holes and ruts which were hidden by the darkness of the 
night. When we reached camp, which was not until mid- 
night, the men and horses were nearly exhausted. During 
this march our captain with his horse fell down an embank- 
ment some eight feet, but received no material injury. As 
he was a strict temperance man, we, of course, had to lay the 
blame upon the poor beast. 

February 20th. Orders to be ready to move at a moment's 
notice. Our knapsacks were packed and ready to move, but 
the order was soon countermanded. 

February 28th. Chaplain Perry arrived with the follow- 
ing recruits : Richard Alexander, Charles W. Robbins, James 
M. Durfee, Albert M. Bennett, James Fitzpatrick, William 
Mason, Sampson Burgess, S. W. Corp, J. M. Davidson, 
Luther L. Young, J. A. Hopkins, Geo. H. Burgess, C. Chap- 
man, H. O. Collins, D. A. Sweet. 

March 8th. Quartermaster John K. Bucklyn having re- 
ceived a commission as second lieutenant, assumed his duties 
as chief of caissons, vice Jastram, who had been advanced 
to command the left section ; Corporal Charles A. Brown, of 
the fourth detachment promoted to quartermaster-sergeant, 
vice J. K. Bucklyn, promoted ; Second Corporal Hargraves 
promoted gunner, vice Brown, promoted ; Private Wm. H. 
Polk* promoted second corporal of the fourth detachment. 

During the first week in March various rumors were in 
motion. Orders to have rations on hand, shelter tents and 
rubber ponchos were being issued throughout the army. On 
the 7th General Franklin ordered his first brigade, com- 
manded by General Kearny, to Burke's Station on the Alex- 
andria & Orange Railroad, for the purpose of guarding a party 

* Formurly spelled Pcoke. 



iS62 ] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 3 1 

of laborers. While there General Kearny was informed by 
negroes that the rebels were about to leave Manassas. On 
the 8th he notified Franklin of the rumor, and, without wait- 
ing for orders, sent troops in all directions scouring the 
country and driving in the rebel cavalry and pickets. He 
continued his movements on the 9th, when he encountered 
some rebel cavalry, which he soon put to flight. On the 
loth Kearny still continued to advance, when, about ten a. m., 
he entered Centreville and Manassas, and found them de- 
serted. It was subsequently learned that the rebels left on 
the 8th and 9th. Everything indicated that they left in great 
haste, as an immense amount of commissary stores, baggage 
wagons, several locomotives and cars were found, besides a 
large number of tents and other valuable property. It was 
not until the nth that the main forces who were ordered 
forward to Manassas reached there, fully twenty-four hours 
after Kearny and his brave Jersey troops entered the vacated 
forts. I refer to this statement as Battery E was afterwards 
so closely identified with Kearny's movements that it is of 
great interest to them. This move of Kearny's was unknown 
to us at the time. 

Let us now return to Battery E, which we left on the 8th 
waiting for something to turn up. On the loth orders came 
to be ready to move the next day at nine a. m. The nth 
came but we made no movement, although large bodies of 
troops were marching towards Centreville, but we, instead of 
moving went on target practice. We had not heard of the 
evacuation of Manassas until to-day, which plainly revealed 
to us the cause of so much activity for the last few days. 
The next day large numbers of steamers and vessels were 
constantly arriving at Alexandria. This added greatly to the 
mystery of the anticipated movement. On the 14th our large 
Sibley tents were lowered, never again to be used by us. 
Our sick were sent to the hospital, except First Sergeant 
Wm. E. Bowen, Privates John Hilton, and James McGuire, 
who were discharged. Bowen had been subject to epileptic 
fits for quite a period ; were it not for this he would doubt- 
less soon have received a commission. He was a soldier of 
unusual merit and always performed his duties faithfully. 

It was a cold, cloudy day, and having no tents we had to 
resort to camp-fires to keep comfortable. All the regiments 
far and near had broken camp and were encamped temporarily 



32 . HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 

near Alexandria, and, like ourselves, had to build camp-fires, 
around which they made a pretence of keeping warm. It was a 
cheerless day, but the anticipation of a real movement dispelled 
somewhat the disagreeableness of our situation. It was a se- 
vere trial for those who were not in good health. Among these 
was James M. Durfee, a pale-faced boy of fifteen years, whose 
bloodless face and hacking cough indicated a short career. 
Nevertheless, although he was several times sent to the hos- 
pital, he served out his time and was one of the bravest boys 
in the battery. The average number on the sick list during 
our stay at this camp was about fifteen per day. Only three 
or four were dangerously sick, and only one death occurred. 
During these days of suspense Sergt. Jacob H. Lamb of the 
first detachment was promoted first sergeant, vice Bowen, 
discharged ; First Corp. Allen Gardiner, of the sixth detach- 
ment, promoted sergeant, vice Lamb promoted ; Corp. F. 
B. Butts, of the first detachment, was transferred to the sixth 
detachment as second corporal ; Second Corp. C. P. Williams 
was advanced to gunner on the sixth piece ; Private Charles 
S. Win slow was promoted to second corporal and assigned to 
first detachment. 

Here, for future reference, let us give the organization of 
the army as it existed just before being sent to the Peninsula, 
by inserting the following order by General McClellan : 

HEADqUARTERS ArMY OF THE POTOMAC, 

Fairfax Court House, Va., March 13, 1S62. 

General Orders, JVo. iji. 

In compliance with the President's War Order, No, 2, of March Sth, 
1S62, the active portion of the Army of the Potomac is formed Into army 
corps, as follows, viz. : 

First Corps, Maj.-Gen. Irvin McDowell, to consist for the present of 
the divisions of Franklin, McCall and King. 

Second Corps, Brig.-Gen. E. V. Sumner; divisions Richardson, Blen- 
ker and Sedgwick. 

Third Corps, Brigadier-General Heintzelman: divisions F. J. Porter, 
Hooker and Hamilton. 

Fourth Corps, Brig.-Gen. E. D. Keyes; divisions Couch, Smith and 
Casey. 

Fifth Corps, Maj.-Gen. N. P. Banks; divisions Williams and Shields. 

The cavalry regiments attached to divisions will, for the present, re- 
main so. Subsequent orders will provide for these regiments, as well as 
for the reserve artillery, regular infantry and regular cavalry. Arrange- 
ments will be made to unite the divisions of each army corps as promptly 
as possible. 



iS62.] FIRST R, I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, 33 

The commanders of divisions will at once report in person, or where 
that is impossible, b}' letter, to the commander of their army corps. 

By command of Major-General McClellan. 
A. V. CoLBURN, Assista7t/ Ad/' u taut- General. 

The Third corps after being fully organized consisted of 
the following divisions and brigades : 

First division, Gen. Fitz John Porter, artillery : Grififin's 
battery (D), Fifth United States, six ten-pounders Parrott 
guns ; Weeden's battery (C), Rhode Island ; Martin's battery, 
(C), Massachusetts, six Napoleon guns ; Allen's battery (E), 
Massachusetts, six three-inch ordnance guns ; infantry: Mar- 
tindale's brigade ; Second Maine, Eighteenth and Twenty-Sec- 
ond Massachusetts and Twenty-fifth and Thirteenth New York 
Volunteers ; Morrell's brigade : Fourteenth New York, Fourth 
Michigan, Ninth Massachusetts, and Sixty-second Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers ; Butterfield's brigade : Seventeenth, Forty- 
fourth and Twelfth New York, Eighty-third Pennsylvania, 
and Stockton's (Sixteenth) Michigan Volunteers. First Berdan 
Sharpshooters were attached to this division, but were inde- 
pendent. Second division, Gen. Joseph Hooker, artillery: 
Hall's battery (H), First United States four Parrotts and two 
howitzers ; Smith's battery Fourth New York, ten-pounder 
Parrotts ; Bramhall's battery, Sixth New York, three-inch 
ordnance guns ; Osborn's battery, First New York, four 
three-inch ordnance guns ; infantry : Daniel E. Sickles's 
brigade ; First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Excelsior, 
New York ; H. M, Nagle's brigade ; First and Eleventh 
Massachusetts, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, and Second New 
Hampshire Volunteers ; Col. S. H. Starr's brigade. Fifty- 
sixth, Seventh and Eighth New Jersey Volunteers ; Third 
division, Charles S. Hamilton ; artillery : Thompson's bat- 
tery (G), Second United States, six Napoleon guns ; Beam's 
battery (B), New Jersey, four Parrotts and two Napoleon 
guns ; Randolph's battery (E), Rhode Island, six guns four 
ten-pounders, Parrotts and two twelve-pounder howitzers ; 
infantry ; Jameson's brigade, One Hundred and Fifth, Sixty- 
third, and Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania, and Eighty-seventh 
New York Volunteers ; D. B. Birney's brigade ; Thirty- 
eighth and Fortieth New York and Third and Fourth Maine 
Volunteers ; H. G. Berry's brigade ; Second, Third and Fifth 
Michigan and Thirty-seventh New-York Volunteers. 



34 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 



CHAPTER IV. 

March— April, 1862. 

Departure for the Peninsula and Siege of Yorktown. 

HAVING given in the previous chapter the general 
formation of the Army of the Potomac and as Battery 
E was so long connected with the Third corps, I have 
given its regimental and battery formation as it existed when 
we left Alexandria for Fortress Monroe. I will again return 
to battery E, which we left on the 14th waiting in the rain 
for orders to move. The next day brought nothing but a 
heavy rain. On the 17th, orders came to put our battery 
on board the transports that were lying at Alexandria to con- 
vey troops to our then unknown destination ; but we soon 
learned that it was to Fortress Monroe. The guns and am- 
munition chests of the left section and all the horses of the 
battery, with men enough to care for them, were put on the 
barge St. Nicholas under the charge of First Sergt. Jacob H. 
Lamb. The guns and carriages of the right and centre sec- 
tions, with most of the men and all the commissioned officers, 
were put on the barge Walkill. These barges were a part of 
a fleet of about thirty crafts of all kinds, that were to carry 
Hamilton's division of the Third corps, to which we belonged. 
The fleet started at two p. m. on the i8th. Our battery started 
at 2.30, the St. Nicholas being towed by two propellers, the 
Decatur 2ccidi P ant Jicnia. At six p. M.we were off the Occoquan 
River and continued down the Potomac to near Sandy Point, 
when the St. Nicholas and the propellers ran aground. It was 
then ten p. isi. Here we remained until ten a. m. next mornin,g, 
when the St. NicJiolas got afloat, but the two propellers were 
unable to extricate themselves. While in this condition we 
signaled the steamer E. D. Collins and one other, but they 
failed to get the propellers afloat ; later the steamer Herald 
came to our relief and took us in tow and went as far as Cedar 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 35 

Point Neck, where we cast anchor at five p. m. The next 
morning the steamer left us and returned after the two pro- 
pellers left behind. She never returned, but the two pro- 
pellers came up at 2.30 p. m. We did not start, but remained 
here until the next morning, when we were taken in tow by the 
steamer John Brooks. During our stay of thirty-six hours at 
Cedar Point our rations were reduced to hard tack and raw 
bacon, not very palatable to raw troops, but there was no 
remedy. We continued our journey in company with the 
barge California loaded with forage, which was fastened to 
the St. Nicholas, both being towed by the steamer Johji 
Brooks. We sailed until 1.30 p. m., when the tow line broke 
that held us to the steamer, but the delay was only short. 
Without further trouble we reached Fortress Monroe at three 
p. M., being one of the first to reach our destination, having been 
seventy-three hours on the passage. The Walkill, which 
contained the remaining part of the battery, separated from 
the St. Nicholas during the first night when she was aground, 
and was more unfortunate than her companions. She con- 
tinued her voyage, being towed by a vessel till the 19th, when, 
on account of an approaching storm, it was thought unsafe 
for so small a craft to proceed, and, being near St. Mary's Bay, 
she entered it and cast anchor to await events. It was not 
until the 23d that they were relieved from their prison, pro- 
visions not being provided for delays. The result was that 
rations were decidedly short. Every day they were reduced in 
quantity, and, if relief had not finally come, they would have 
had to go on shore and call upon rural quartermasters for 
supplies. The officers were more fortunate, as a small pas- 
sing gunboat left a small quantity of meat for temporary relief. 
Signals of distress, finally, on the 23d, brought a propeller with 
hard tack and beef. Once during the stay the officers went on 
shore to the residence of a Catholic priest, and were absolved 
from their hunger at least ; but judging from their future 
some doubts were entertained as to their sins having been 
absolved ; they were certainly no better than before. One 
relief came to them through a company of slaves who came 
on board with a violin and banjo and had a regular plantation 
dance, which was highly enjoyed by all. A collection was 
taken up for them for the entertainment, and they departed 
well pleased. 



36 HISTORY OF BATTERY K, [March, 

At nine a. M.,on the 23d, Captain Thompson, of the regular 
battery, who was on board with some of his officers, pressed a 
passing steamer to take them in tow to Fortress Monroe, 
where they arrived shortly after midnight. The next morning 
they unloaded and joined the rest of the battery, which had 
arrived three days before, and had awaited their coming with 
much anxiety. After the arrival our interest was turned to see- 
ing the sights at the fortress. Only a few who were fortunate 
enough to get on detail to go after bread, had the pleasure of 
seeing the inside of the fort. This was a great, and we thought 
unnecessary, disappointment. The great Union gun, which 
was mounted on the beach, was of much interest. We had 
never before seen a gun so large that men could amuse them- 
selves by crawling into it. The famous Monitor that lay in 
the harbor, which only a few days before had driven and dis- 
abled that novel craft, the rebel Mertimac, was by far the 
greatest object of interest. Her harmless appearance was 
such that one could hardly believe that a craft formidable 
enough to destroy the Cuvibcj-land and Congress could be put 
to flight by her. 

During the next ten days the Army of the Potomac was 
being concentrated near Hampton, a small village about two 
miles from the fort, which was burned by the rebel general, 
Magruder, Aug. 7, 1861. During these days of waiting the 
men were in good spirits and anxious to move. 

On the 28th, Lieutenant Arnold was badly hurt by his horse 
falling upon him, and a few days after was sent to the hos- 
pital. He subsequently received a leave of absence and did 
not return to his battery for duty until the 24th of June. 

On the 3d of April, an order was issued by General Mc- 
Clellan for Porter's and Hamilton's divisions and Averell's 
cavalry of the Third corps, with Sedgwick's division of the 
Second corps, and General Keyes, with two divisions of the 
Fourth corps, to move on the following morning. Agreeable 
to the above order, we started about eight a. M.with Hamilton's 
division over the New Bridge road which led directly to Big 
Bethel, arriving there at two f. m. Big Bethel w\as the battle 
ground of General Pierce, June 10, 1861, where he was de- 
feated with a loss of fourteen killed. Why the prefix " Big " 
was used none of us could understand, as the only building 
was a small bethel. Passing on some two miles further we 
went into camp for the night on the farm of Colonel Russel. 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 37 

Left camp on the 4th early in the morning, Morrell's 
brigade of the first division in the advance. On reach- 
ing Howard's Bridge over the Poquosin River, where 
some rebel works were encountered, and, after a slight re- 
sistance, the enemy was driven out by the Fourteenth 
New York and the Fourth Michigan. The march was re- 
sumed on the 5th in the same order as before. Battery 
E reached Howard's Bridge about noon. After a short halt 
we passed on towards Yorktown and came in sight of the 
enemy's fortifications at three p. m. General Porter with the 
first division of the Third corps had arrived about noon, 
had been attacked by the rebel artillery and promptly re- 
sponded with infantry and artillery. Battery C of Rhode Island 
being the first to open fire upon the enemy's works, losing one 
man (John T. Reynolds) in the attack. Almost immediately 
after our arrival we were ordered into action near the centre 
of the line, not far from Wynn's mill. 

The right and centre sections, with Parrotts, went into ac- 
tion some distance from the left section, with howitzers. 
The former, although at longer range, were subjected to a se- 
vere fire from the rebel batteries, which had a good range 
upon the locality. The position was held until night, with a 
loss of some six or eight horses and one wheel damaged. 
This place was afterwards called " Randolph's slaughter- 
pen." The left section, although within five hundred yards 
of the rebel rifle-pit, received no loss. This was our first ex- 
perience under fire. Although quite severely shelled by the 
enemy's artillery, with our limited experience we thought we 
had experienced quite a severe engagement. About sunset 
the battery was again united and soon after went into camp 
in an open field. Owing to previous rains the roads were in 
a terrible condition, and the trains, with our rations, were 
stuck in the mud several miles in the rear. On this account, 
not a few of our comrades had no supper, which was an ex- 
perience with which we soon became familiar. 

The next morning found us hitched up at three .-\. m., expect- 
ing that a forward movement would be attempted, little think- 
ing that we were to have a regular siege of one month's dura- 
tion. Not seeing any signs of moving, many of the men 
tried their hand at foraging to supply their rations, one squad 



38 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

being so successful as to capture a steer.* Some went among 
the infantry, and, in some cases, as much as twenty-five cents 
was offered for a single cracker. Such offers were generally 
refused with the remark, " If you are hungry enough to offer 
that amount, I will give you one with pleasure," showing that 
kind hearts were not strangers in the army. An eighty-four 
pound percussion shell was fired into our lines to-day, which 
was viewed with much interest by the men, it being the first 
shot of the kind that we had seen. We much preferred that 
they should be kept at home. Owing to the shell not being 
properly prepared, it did not explode. It was sent to Fortress 
Monroe. 

It was soon evident that a siege had been decided upon, the 
result being that light artillery was of but little use for the next 
four weeks. A siege train of over one hundred guns was or- 
dered to the front, and were during the month placed in 
position as rapidly as possible. Guns of every kind and cal- 
ibre, from two hundred to twelve-pounders, were placed in 
position at every available point. The conveying of these 
heavy guns and mortars made it necessary to build many 
miles of corduroy roads and a large number of fortifications. 
To accomplish this large details had to be made daily to do 
the work, mostly from the infantry, although the light artil- 
lery had more or less corduroying to do when such roads were 
needed near their camp. 

Movements of a temporary nature were constant, and many 
false alarms occurred during the siege, which kept us on the 
alert. 

The battery, on the 12th, moved into the woods and formed 
a comfortable camp, in which we remained while the siege 
lasted, although sections of the battery were often sent to 
the front to assist in some movement, and orders to hitch up 
and unhitch were almost of daily occurrence, caused mostly 
by false alarms. Usually the Parrotts were sent to the front, 
as the howitzer, to be of service, would have to go within 
musket range. 

On the 14th, the right section, under Lieutenant Jastrani, 
was ordered to the front to shell a rifie-pit which was causing 

♦Lieutenant Buckh'n.on being asked by the men if they should kill the steer, replied, " If 
1 see ycu kill that steer 1 shall certainly report you, but f am gfoing out of camp to remain 
awhile." It need not he said that the animal was duly dressed and eaten. 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 39 

US some trouble. They fired fifteen rounds and returned at 
night. 

Comrade E. A. Chandler returned from a furlough, having 
received it while sick at Artillery Camp near Alexandria. 

On the 1 6th, Sergeants Millen and Darling were sent out 
on picket to the place where the battery was engaged on the 
5th. After having fired all their ammunition, the rebels 
opened upon them with eight pieces of artillery, causing 
them to withdraw, as they had no ammunition to continue 
the fight. 

On the 1 6th, the right section went to the front and into 
battery behind breastworks, near Battery G (Rhode Island), 
and fired until one a. m., but the rebels made no reply, 

19th. Right section again shelling rifle-pit, and, after 
silencing them returned to camp. 

2 1 St, Right section out again on picket. Chaplain Perry 
came to the battery with the intention of making it his 
headquarters for an indefinite length of time. 

On the 29th, the left section was sent out on picket duty, 
remaining until the next morning. 

May ist, Lieutenant Arnold, who was hurt by his horse 
falling upon him when near Hampton, made a visit to the 
battery before starting for home on a leave of absence, Chap- 
lain Perry serving as substitute for awhile during his absence. 
At three o'clock on the third of May a large fire was dis- 
covered inside of the rebel works, and at daylight three pris- 
oners were taken at the rifle trenches, who reported that the 
town was evacuated. Four companies of the Sixty-second 
Pennsylvania, and two companies of the Twenty-second 
Massachusetts were sent forward to ascertain if the report 
was correct. The two commands entered the fortifications 
almost together. Colonel Gove, of the Twenty-second 
Massachusetts, planted the first Union flag upon the rebel 
works. Thus ended the siege of Yorktown, which was then 
generally, and now almost universally, thought to have been 
an unnecessary delay. 

During the siege of Yorktown, General Kearny, who 
commanded a brigade of Jersey troops in Franklin's division 
of the First corps, had been, with his command, temporarily 
detached from the Army of the Potomac. On the 17th of 
April he embarked his troops on board the steamer Elm City, 



40 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

at Alexandria, bound for the Army of the Potomac, which 
was then at Yorktown. On the 30th, his troops were landed 
on the shore at Yorktown. On the same day he was assigned 
to the command of the Third division of the Third corps. 
On the 2d of May, General Hamilton, who commanded the 
Third division of the Third corps, having been relieved and 
ordered further south. General Kearny assumed command 
on the 3d to fill the vacancy. Once before Kearny had been 
offered a like command, but he refused to accept for the rea- 
son that his Jersey troops could not be allowed to go with 
him. 



52.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 4I 



CHAPTER V. 

May, 1862. 

Battle of Williamsburg. 

THE 4th of May was one of the most lovely days. In 
connection with the retreat of the enemy it was a day 
of great rejoicing. Our hearts were buoyant with 
hope and faith that we should soon be in possession of Rich- 
mond. The army was already in pursuit of the retreating 
foe. Kearny's division was one of the last to leave York- 
town. It was not until 2.30 p. m, that the Third division left 
camp to share in the results that were to follow, now that 
the brave and intrepid Kearny was to be our division com- 
mander. We felt sure that the Third division would never 
fail to do its duty in future battles. Before the rebels evac- 
uated the town they buried torpedoes in the ground over 
which we were expected to pass. They were soon discovered, 
but not until a few brave soldiers were slaughtered by this 
barbarous method. These torpedoes were taken up by rebel 
prisoners under command of our provost guard. We passed 
unharmed, and, after reaching a distance of two miles beyond 
the fortifications, the battery went into camp for the night. 
The next morning at two a. m. reveille was sounded. At 
three we were hitched up in the rain, but did not move until 
near the middle of the forenoon. In the meantime the rain 
increased so that by the time we started the roads were quite 
muddy. At a distance in our front the sound of artillery was 
distinctly heard, revealing to us that the rear guard of the 
enemy had been overtaken. Already Hooker was showing 
his fighting qualities, and had forced the rebels to halt a short 
distance this side of Williamsburg, where they had erected 
earthworks, the largest of them being Fort Magruder. 

The trees in the woods fronting the forts were felled to 
give range to their guns and to give cover to their sharp- 
shooters. In these woods most of the fighting was done. 



42 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [M^v, 

which continued all the forenoon with no signs of abating. 
During these hours of anxiety the army was being hurried 
forward with all possible haste, but the roads were so muddy 
it was with the greatest difficulty that troops could make 
even the slowest advance. Temporary roads were cut through 
the woods by the pioneers at every available locality through 
which the troops were hurried, but in spite of these extra roads 
the baggage trains and artillery were so badly mired that 
only slow progress could be made. It was a constant halt 
and start instead of being the rapid movement so much de- 
sired. In the meantime aids and orderlies were constantly 
sent by Hooker and Sumner for assistance, and to Kearny 
in particular, but the energy of Kearny needed nothing more 
than this roar of artillery and the rattling of musketry to 
arouse his utmost efforts to relieve the brave troops who 
were struggling against odds to hold the ground till assist- 
ance could arrive. By the most strenuous exertions Kearny, 
with Berry's brigade in the lead, followed by General Birney 
and Jameson's brigades in quick succession, reached the 
front and immediately went into action. There was consid- 
erable controversy as to the time of Kearny's arrival, but 
nearly all agree that it was about three p. m. Hooker had at 
the time every available regiment in action, all of which were 
being hotly engaged by a rebel force which largely outnum- 
bered them, and which was making strenuous and determined 
efforts to drive in our left and centre and capture our artil- 
lery. Three regiments of Kearny's division, the Third and 
Fourth Maine and the Third Michigan were detached and 
ordered to support General Emory's cavalry on the left. 
Berry's and Birney's brigades were rapidly deployed into the 
woods in front of Fort Magruder. Berry's brigade on the left 
of the Williamsburg road and Birney's on the right went 
immediately into action. Hooker's Second division of the 
Third corps having nearly exhausted its ammunition was 
withdrawn. Soon the whole line was hotly engaged and was 
successful in slowly driving the enemy back, but the felled 
timber and obstructions were so formidable it was not possi- 
ble to advance further. At this juncture of affairs Col. 
Hobart Ward, of the Thirty-eighth New York, followed by 
Colonel Riley, of the Fortieth New York (Mozart), was or- 
dered by General Kearny tc charge down the Williamsburg 
road, which was done with the characteristic bravery they 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 43 

ever afterwards sustained. This charge was successful and 
resulted in the silencing of the light artillery of the enemy 
and gaining their rear. General Jameson's brigade having 
arrived and the three detached regiments having returned 
from the left, they were formed into a second line and com- 
manded to await orders. About this time Battery E was 
ordered down the Williamsburg road and unlimbered on the 
right of the road where the mud and water was nearly 
hub deep, from which it was with the greatest difficulty that 
the pieces could be moved. While thus situated a few shots 
were fired over our heads and buried harmlessly in the mud. 
After waitmg a short time for the command to fire, orders 
were given to limber up and return to the open field in rear 
of the woods, near where we lay before going to the imme- 
diate front. After our long and weary march through the 
mud and slush, we were glad to get a rest. After a supper 
of hard tack and partly drying ourselves by camp-fires, we 
spread our blankets on the ground and slept as soundly as 
we had ever done upon our pillows at home. 

At an early hour on the 6th it was learned that the rebels 
were evacuating the forts in our front. At dawn a squad of 
twelve men of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania 
Regiment advanced and entered the works and found them 
empty, but rebel cavalry were seen near the town. General 
Jameson then ordered his brigade forward, deploying four 
companies of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Vol- 
unteers as skirmishers, and with one section of Thompson's 
and the left section of Randolph's battery, commanded by 
Lieutenant Bucklyn, moved forward towards Williamsburg, 
the rebel cavalry retreating out of the town just as we 
entered it. The section of Lieutenant Bucklyn followed the 
enemy a short distance beyond the town and went into bat- 
tery upon a knoll, remaining a short time, and then returned 
to the town and went into park upon the grounds of W'illiam 
and Mary College. On returning Bucklyn brought with 
him a small Spanish gun, abandoned by the rebels, mounted 
upon a miniature carriage. The gun, according to Lieuten- 
ant Jastram's statement, carried a shot of three pounds, but 
the diary of Sergt C. P. Williams reads "a two-pounder." 
On top of the gun was marked " P. Seesta 1778," with mon- 
ogram A. & V. underneath, and with letters O. & C. endorsed 
near the vent. The gun before we left was mounted upon 



44 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

the wall near the camp, where we left it when we left town, 
but rumor has it that a Massachusetts regiment sent it home 
soon after as a trophy. 

The other sections of the battery came up during the fore- 
noon and joined the left section at the college, except the 
battery wagon and the caissons of the centre section, which 
were mired during the battle. One of these in command of 
Corporal Humphrey, by the assistance of extra horses, was 
brought up the next day. 

The other caisson and the battery wagon were drawn out 
of the mud by the skillful management of Lieutenant Buck- 
lyn, with the twenty-four horses of the left section, who in 
doing so had to use the prolonge, as the muddy ground near 
the carriages would not admit the near approach of the 
horses. 

Battery E had now passed through two battles, although it 
had not been called upon to do any very hard fighting. 
It had nevertheless been tested in its capacity to endure 
fatigue and to face dangers with that courage which alone 
can give victory. It was also our first experience of coming 
in contact with the wounded and dying soldiers, many of 
whom we passed on our way into Williamsburg. Several 
negro shanties were occupied by these from both armies, 
they having reached there after being so severely wounded 
that they were unable to rejoin their commands. It was a 
heart-rending experience to hear their imploring calls for 
water, of which we had none. We could only encourage 
them to bear their sufferings bravely until the ambulances 
and assistance arrived. It was a hard duty, but as we were 
advancing with the skirmish line we had no choice but to 
leave them to the fortunes of war. 

Our stay at Williamsburg was for only three days, but dur- 
ing this period we had quite a pleasant time. Sutlers came 
up with their wares, but those who could purchase had to 
pay enormous prices. Butter sold at one dollar per pound 
and other articles in proportion. Battery E always thought 
itself equal in good conduct to the general character of the 
army, but sometimes we were somewhat unchivalrous, which 
was shown at Williamsburg in our foraging propensities, by 
not forgetting to milk any Secesh cows that came in our way ; 
but the strict discipline of our captain put a check to this 
and we were soon restored to order. 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 45 



CH A PTE R V I. 

May— June, 1862. 
In Pursuit of the Enemy and Battle of Fair Oaks. 

ON the 9th of May we started with three days' rations 
on our way towards Richmond. As the season had 
now advanced beyond the need of winter supplies, all 
but two blankets were turned in, which lightened our burdens 
somewhat, although the weather occasionally called for them. 
The first day we advanced about six miles over roads strewn 
with rebel equipage, encamping in an open field. On the 
loth we advanced near to Barhamville, a small hamlet eighteen 
miles from Williamsburg. Here we remained two days, forag- 
ing in the meantime forty-five bushels of corn, and some corn- 
stalks for the use of our horses. 

On the 13th, we went to within four miles of New Kent 
Court House. On the way private Joslin was so sick that we 
had to hold him on the caisson. He was better the ne.xt morn- 
ing. Remained here all the next day. On the i 5th hitched 
up at four A. M., and marched to Cumberland on the Pamunky 
River, which is one of the sources of York River. One of 
the first objects that met our view was the steamer Canoniciis, 
of Providence, R. I. We encamped on the ground just va- 
cated by Porter's division, which had quite recently rejoined 
the Army of the Potomac. Soon after arriving it commenced 
raining in torrents, almost flooding the ground upon which 
our tents were pitched. It was a tedious and sleepless night 
for the many thousands of troops encamped here. We re- 
mained here two days. During the stay the men took ad- 
vantage of the tempting river for bodily ablution, which was 
very much needed. On the 19th we moved back two miles 
and encamped over night, and then at an early hour started 
forward again, and reached Baltimore Cross Roads at 7.30 a. 
M., where we remained two days. On the first day our knap- 



46 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

sacks were ordered to be carried in the baggage wagons. This 
'was more to relieve the horses than ourselves, as they had 
invariably before been carried on the caissons and limbers. 
The second day will long be remembered by the drivers who 
had to ride their horses some three or four miles in the sultry 
heat before finding water for them. 

It was here that our first experience from rations of whiskey 
was tried. Its effect was as usual, — producing more harm than 
good. The issue was by order from headquarters and against 
the wish of Captain Randolph, whose well known opinion was 
against its use. One of its results was that drunkenness 
followed, making it necessary to reduce one of our best gun- 
ners, but he was in a day or two reinstated. 

On the 23d we advanced six or seven miles through a 
most delightful country where fields of over a hundred acres 
of wheat waved in splendor. What a contrast to the desola- 
lation usually left by war. 

May 24th found us encamped near a small church about 
one and a half miles from Bottom's Bridge, on the Chickaho- 
miny River. We remained here until the next morning. At 
six A. M. we broke camp for Bottom's Bridge, where we arrived 
at nine o'clock, and crossed at eleven a. m., marching about two 
miles and went into camp. Here we remained for five da\-s, 
experiencing heavy thunder showers and hot weather. All 
of our camp equipage, except overcoats and ponchos, was 
sent back to the baggage wagons beyond the Chickahominy, 
which showed evidence that a battle was near at hand. 

The Fifth and Sixth corps, commanded by General Porter and 
General Franklin held the lines of communication crossing the 
Chickahominy to Richmond, from a point north of Richmond to 
Boatswain Swamp. General Sumner's Second corps joined 
General Franklin's left and extended to near the York River 
Railroad. General Keyes's Fourth corps had crossed at Bot- 
tom's Bridge on the 23d, and on the 24th had advanced to near 
Fair Oaks, throwing up a line of rifle-pits near the Seven Pines. 
General Heintzelnian, who had crossed with the Third corps 
on the 25th, being the senior officer on the south side of the 
river, was ordered to take command of both corps ; the Third 
corps was to guard the crossing of White Oak Swamp and 
to hold Seven Pines at all hazards. 

Our picket line al this time extended from the lower trestle 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 47 

bridge on the Chickahominy to White Oak Swamp on our 
left. Casey's division was stationed three quarters of a mile 
in front of Seven Pines, Couch's division at Seven Pines, 
Kearny's division between Savage Station and Bottom's 
Bridge, Hooker's division on the line of White Oak Swamp. 
During the afternoon of the 30th and the following night 
heavy thunder showers caused the river to rise, threatening to 
carry away the bridge and making the road almost impassable. 
At an early hour on the morning of the 31st we were ordered 
forward about three miles to a line of breastworks crossing the 
Williamsburg road, when Lieutenant Bucklyn's left section 
and the fourth piece, all under command of Lieutenant 
Jastram, were ordered behind the breastworks, a short dis- 
tance from and to the left of the road. The right half of the 
battery, under Captain Randolph and Lieutenant Sheldon, 
was ordered a quarter of a mile further forward to the right 
of the road. The caissons were ordered to the rear under 
command of First Sergeant Lamb. Chaplain Perry, who 
was with the battery, was at liberty to be with either half as 
he should choose. 

About one p. m. Casey's division was attacked vigorously by 
General Hill and General Longstreet's divisions, composed 
of Rodes, Rains, Garland, G. B. Anderson, Wilcox, Colton, 
Kemper, and Jenkins' brigades and others. The attack upon 
Casey was directed upon his front and both flanks with such 
force that his inexperienced troops fell back in great confu- 
sion to the second line of rifle-pits, which were occupied by 
Couch's division. Generals Berry, Jam.eson, and Birney's brig- 
ades, of Kearny's division, were now ordered into action. 
Birney's brigade was ordered up the railroad, but owing to 
some misunderstanding did not reach the scene of action. 
Berry and Jameson soon became hotly engaged. Li the 
meantime Hooker was ordered to move up from the White 
Oak Swamp and arrived in the early morning. At the com- 
mencement of the firing orders were sent to General Sumner, 
who was then on the north side of the Chickahominy, to hold 
his corps ready to move at a moment's notice. There were 
only two divisions in this corps, General Richardson's and 
General Sedgwick's, and each had constructed a bridge over 
the river opposite their command, so that when the order came 
at 2.30 p. M., the divisions were immediately started for the 



48 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

battlefield, only one division (Sedgwick's) arriving in time to 
engage in this day's fight. During the anxious hours 
awaiting the arrival of the Second corps and Hooker's divi- 
sion, the battle had continued with great stubbornness on 
both sides, although we had been driven back to the second 
line of defences by the breaking of Casey's division. The 
arrival of the Second corps renewed our hope of success in 
the end. 

During the night both sides moved their forces for a re- 
newal of the fight, with a determination to win the battle. 
Soon after daylight, June ist, skirmishing began between 
(jur skirmish line and some rebel cavalry. Soon after the 
rebels opened fire along the whole line. The attack upon 
General French's brigade of Richardson's division, who lay 
to the left of the railroad, was very persistent. Nearly an 
hour this brigade held the ground against great odds. The 
enemy was several times reinforced, and General Howard's 
brigade was sent to French's assistance, when the enemy 
fell back in his front. In the meantime General Hooker had 
advanced on the railroad with the Fifth and Sixth New York 
regiments, and when approaching the woods he found Colonel 
Hobart Ward in command of Birney's brigade in line of 
battle (General Birney being under arrest). He at once 
attacked the enemy with the two New York regiments, being 
ably supported by Birney's brigade. Hooker advanced into 
the woods under heavy fire, which continued for more than 
an hour. A charge was then made with the Fifth and Sixth 
New York, Third Maine, and Thirty-eighth and Fortieth 
New York, and the rebels fled in confusion, leaving many of 
their arms in their flight. 

General Sickles was ordered to advance on the line of the 
Williamsburg road, when a sharp musketry fire was opened 
upon him from the woods while he was crossing the open 
field. The Excelsior brigade with fixed bayonets charged 
into the woods and drove the enemy out in disorder. On the 
right the enemy again attacked General Richardson's brigade 
with great fury, making a determined effort to break his line, 
but the courage of our troojis made it useless. General Rich- 
ardson then adv^anced his whole line, firing at close range, 
causing the rebs to fall back in confusion. General French 
then made a charge with the Fifty-seventh and Sixty-sixth 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 49 

New York, supported by the Seventy-first and Seventy-third 
New York, of General Sickles's brigade, which put the enemy 
to flight. 

Our troops had now retaken the ground lost the day before 
and the battle was virtually ended. Unexpectedly General 
McClellan made no effort to follow the defeated enemy. It 
was the misfortune of Battery E not to have the privilege of 
being actually engaged in this battle, although we were hourly 
expecting to be allowed to do so. Our position was such that 
we could not fire without endangering our own troops. The 
right half of the battery was stationed near Casey's posi- 
tion and was within rifle-shot during the action of May 31st, 
and many shots passed through their part of the battery, but 
no one was hurt. 

However one may feel about going into action, there is 
usually the desire to have the honor of participating with 
one's comrades in every effort to sustain the cause for which 
they are fighting. Here, as at Williamsburg, Battery E was 
an anxious but silent partner in the struggle for victory. 
Sergt. William Millen was the only man fortunate enough 
to have any active duty to perform, he being temporarily at- 
tached to Kearny's staff as an orderly, a position that his 
loyal sentiments and undoubted courage would have qualified 
him to have held permanently. 

The battery remained in its position during the rest of the 
•day and through the night. About two a. m., June 2d, quite a 
panic occurred, caused, it was said, by a loose mule running 
against a stack of muskets, one of them being discharged by 
the fall. This caused the pickets to open fire, supposing the 
report to come from the enemy. In an instant thousands of 
troops sprang to their feet, and rushed to their arms, which 
gave a roaring sound through the woods like the approach of 
a tornado. At the time the left half of the battery were 
sleeping soundly upon their tarpaulins, and, like the infantry, 
hurried to their guns to be ready for action if required. 

At ten A. M. the left half of the battery was moved to where 
the right half was stationed during the battle. At two p. m. 
we were ordered forward about one and a half miles and en- 
camped on the battle ground, near the railroad, and remained 
all night. 



50 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

The total loss in this battle was 5,031. Of this number 
the Second corps lost 1,185; Third corps, 1,246; Fourth 
corps, 2,600. Kearny's division alone had a loss of 1,091, 
207 of them beino^ in Birney's brigade ; 419, in Jameson's brig- 
ade, and 465 in Berry's brigade. No artillery was engaged in 
Kearny's or Hooker's divisions. The rebel loss was about 
6,134, 980 being killed. The number of Union troops in 
the three corps engaged was about 51,000. The rebel force 
present was about 62,000. 

June 3d, rumors of an attack. At nine a. m. hitched up in 
consequence, and, at four p. m., unhitched, the alarm proving 
false. 

June 4th. An order of congratulation from General Mc- 
Clellan was read to the army, thanking them for their former 
acts and asking them to show the same courage in the battle 
soon to follow. 

June 7th. Our baggage wagons came up with our knap- 
sacks, containing a change of clothing. This was the first 
time that we found ourselves keeping company with grey- 
backs. As the first to discover them was considered to be a 
model of cleanliness, we all thought if he was so afflicted we 
must have the greyback fever in its full force. After an ex- 
amination of our wearing apparel we found that our supposi- 
tion was correct. The result was a hasty doffing of our 
army blue and the substitution of a new suit ; but we soon 
learned that this method was useless and expensive. Per- 
sonal cleanliness, with plenty of soap and water, with a good 
selection for a bunk-mate, was the best method to be pursued. 

On June 8th another alarm was caused by firing on our 
right and front. Chaplain Perry, who had made his head- 
c;[uarters with us since the 21st of April, started for Rhode 
Island, he having been appointed by Governor Sprague re- 
cruiting officer for that State. 

June 9th. Two sections of the battery went to the front 
as a support to the Sixty-third Pennsylvania regiment, which 
was on picket, remaining out all night. 

June nth. The battery changed camp a short distance to 
the rear. The land in this section of the country was le\cl, 
mostly woodland, many parts of it being swampy. That 
part not woodland was covered with shrubbery and briers. 
Acres of felled trees lay in our front, and, being entwined 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 5 1 

with shrubbery and briers, it was with the greatest difficulty 
that we could pass through, as some of us often did to gather 
berries. It served as an excellent picket line. On one of 
these berry excursions two or three of us passed to the right 
of these felled trees into some woodland, where there were 
several pools of water caused by the recent rain. Lying be- 
side one of these pools we found five dead rebels. They 
crawled there, probably after water, and, not being dis- 
covered, died of wounds or starvation. The bodies were so 
badly swollen and black that their friends could not have 
recognized them. Yet, doubtless they had loving friends, 
who were ignorant of their sad deaths. Such is the result 
of the barbarous system of war, yet we boast of our high 
civilization. Is not such a claim a misnomer .'' The discovery 
was reported and a detail at once sent to bury them. 

On the 13th the enemy commenced shelling our camp with 
siege guns, which became a daily practice. Pickets were 
almost constantly firing night and day. It was one con- 
stant hitchup and then unhitch. Cannoneers were almost 
hourly at their posts, expecting an attack. The left section, 
under Jastram, had been for nearly two weeks at the left of 
the line, and shared in the constant strain. The infantry 
were constantly on the alert, being moved from one point to 
another as the movements of the enemy made it necessary. 
The weather was very hot at the time, with occasional showers. 
The hot weather, with the loss of sleep, and want of more 
active movements for the last ten days, began to show its ef- 
fect upon the health of the men ; quite a number were on 
light duty, and several quite sick, George W. Fisk and Rob- 
ert Sutcliffe dangerously so. 

June 24th, Lieutenant Arnold returned to duty, having re- 
covered from his injuries received at Hampton, and took 
charge of his former section (right) Lieutenant Jastram re- 
turning to the left, relieving Bucklyn, who again resumed 
command of the caissons. 

June 25th, the battle of Oak Grove (or Orchard) vi?as fought, 
the first of the seven days' battles before Richmond. Heint- 
zelman's Third corps, one brigade (Palmer's) of Keyes's Fourth 
corps, and a part of one division (Richardson's) of Sumner's 
Second corps, were engaged, making a total of thirty-one 
regiments and two batteries, one of them being Beam's battery. 



52 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

of Kearny's division. Although it is usually called a skir- 
mish, the losses exceeded those of many other battles, the 
killed and wounded being over 500 on our side alone. 

The battle grew out of a movement to advance our picket 
line, to gain a better view and position for our advance move- 
ment, which was intended to have been begun the next day. 
The line which was advanced lay on our front and right. 
Hooker and Kearny were the leading spirits in the move- 
ment. Our battery lay in a redan just south of the railroad, 
with cannoneers at their posts, waiting for whatever might 
turn up ; but the artillery, owing to the swamps and wood- 
land, was almost useless, and we were allowed to remain at 
our post, much to our regret. The only satisfaction left us 
was that our comrades were successful in their efforts, hav- 
ing advanced the picket line as desired, although Gen. A. R. 
Wright, who commanded the rebels, denies the claim, and 
affirms that his lines at the close of the action were precisely 
the same as when the attack began. 



i862.] FIRST R. 1. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



CHAPTER VII. 

June, 1862. 

In Front of Richmond and Battle of Glendale. 

JUNE 26th was an anxious day for McClellan. His hope 
that General McDowell would join him on the right gave 
him confidence that he would be able to capture Rich- 
mond, which was modified by fears that Jackson would re- 
inforce General Lee from the Shenandoah Valley and attack 
him on his flank and rear. Rumors that the latter would 
happen had been rife for several days. Should defeat come 
McClellan had decided to change his base to the James River; 
his plan to that effect had been made known to General Por- 
ter about the middle of June. General Ingalls, quartermaster 
at the White House, was notified on the 26th to have every- 
thing loaded and ready, and, if defeat should come, to send 
everything to the James River, and to destroy what he could 
not take away. Orders were also sent to the Second, Third, 
Fourth, and Sixth corps, which were now on the south side 
of the river, to hold themselves ready to send all the troops 
they could spare to the north bank of the river. All of these 
orders indicated that a great battle was expected and that 
there was some apprehension of defeat. Gen. Fitz John 
Porter's Fifth corps, and McCall's Division of Pennsylvania 
Reserves, a total force of about 27,000, was all the force on 
the north bank of the river. About two p. m. the Confederates 
under Longstreet, D. H. and A. P. Hill, commenced to cross 
the Chickahominy and moved rapidly to attack our fortified 
lines along the Beaver Dam Creek. The venerable McCall 
was in immediate command of the Union forces. The at- 
tack was vigorous along the whole line, and especially so 
against Generals Reynolds and Seymour. Although the Con- 
federates had more than double our number, our position was 
so strong and ably defended by Reynolds, Seymour, Martin- 



54 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

dale, Griffin, and Meade, that after a few hours of severe 
fighting the rebels retired. Only eleven regiments and six 
batteries were engaged on our side. The Confederates had 
twenty-one regiments and eight batteries. Our loss was 361. 
The rebel loss was reported at 1,589. According to S win- 
ton's statement Longstreet admitted their loss to be between 
three and four thousand. 

On the left, in front of the Third corps, the pickets were 
very active, and kept up a continuous racket all day, doubt- 
less with the intention of deceiving us as to their strength 
in our front. It was soon after discovered that only about 
25,000 troops lay between us and Richmond, the bulk of the 
army having been sent to attack our right, while the Union 
forces consisted of four corps, having an aggregate of 60,000 
men, a force sufficient to have crushed General Magruder, 
who was in command of the rebels, in a few hours. In our 
ignorance of their weakness lay the safety of the Confed- 
erate citadel ; but the knowledge, or want of knowledge, of 
an enemy's movements is an essential factor in fighting a 
battle. 

June 27th found Porter's forces about six miles further south 
in line of battle east of the Powhite Creek. This line was 
selected to fight the main battle because it could better cover 
the bridges and more easily communicate with the main 
army, and in case of defeat it could better protect itself against 
a flank movement to head off his columns when on retreat to 
the James River. 

During the afternoon of the 26th Slocum's division of the 
Sixth corps had been sent to Porter, raising his troops to 
about 35,000, to be pitted against nearly twice that number. 
The siege guns and all extra wagons had been sent during 
the night to the south side of the river. 

Jackson's corps having now arrived in full force, the rebels 
advanced with a bold front and by two i". m., were in full line of 
battle i)arallel to our own. 

B.XTTLE OF Gaines Mills. 

The battle commenced about 2 v. m., by Gen. A. P. Hill, 
who attacked our right and was stoutly resisted by our troops, 
although at one time our lines were broken. The enemy 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, 55 

was driven back in great disorder and with heavy loss, A 
feint was then made on our left by General Longstreet, to 
cover the main attack for an advance along the whole line, 
which .commenced at six p. m., with all the available troops at 
hand. The attack was met on the right by Sykes division of 
regulars and Griffin's brigade and Bartlett's brigade of Slo- 
cum's division. The slaughter was terrible on both sides, 
and the roar of artillery was incessant and could be heard 
plainly by us in the Third corps, who were anxiously await- 
ing the result. The left of our line was attacked by Jackson 
with great impetuosity, and although resisted with a like per- 
sistence, its lines were finally broken by Texan troops led 
by General Hood, who captured fourteen pieces of artillery. 
During the panic which followed, the confusion was increased 
by a charge of our cavalry, who were mistaken for the enemy, 
thereby throwing our lines into disorder. In the meantime 
our right had maintained its ground against Generals Ewell's 
and Hill's divisions, but the breaking of the left made defeat 
certain, and if night had not set in our defeat would in all 
probability have been a complete rout. During the night the 
Union troops crossed the Chickahominy, and by early morn- 
ing the bridges were destroyed. The losses on our side were 
894 killed, 3,107 wounded, 2,836 missing, a total of 6,837. 
The losses of Jackson's, Ewell's, Whiting's, and D. H. Hill's 
divisions were: killed, 589; wounded, 2,671 ; missing, 24; a 
total of 3,284. The losses of Longstreet and A. P. Hill were 
not reported, but it is estimated it would raise their loss 
about to ours. 

Returning again to Battery E, we find although not in the 
battle, that death had taken two of our men, Robert Sut- 
cliffe and George W.- Fisk, who had been sick several weeks 
with typhoid fever. Both had been good and faithful sol- 
diers. Sutcliffe belonged to the first detachment, and Fisk 
was a valuable driver in the fifth detachment. He was the 
eldest son of Reuben and grandson of Isaac Fisk, well-known 
farmers at the west end of Coventry, R. I. If the writer had 
not himself seen with his own eyes the inhuman treatment 
given Mr. Fisk he would not have believed such brutality 
possible. He was in the field hospital, about half a mile in 
rear of the battery, and as the battery was constantly on duty 
it was not often that a comrade could get away to see his 



5^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

friends in the hospital. Being anxious to know how my 
comrade was getting along, I took leave without permit to do 
so. On approaching the sick tent and being known by the 
man in charge, he said that Mr. Fisk needed a change of 
underclothing, which at once excited my fear that all was not 
as it should be. On reaching the tent I beheld what I never 
saw before and never wish to see again. He was not only 
unwashed and dirty, but he lay alone and almost uncon- 
scious, with flies encircling his mouth by the hundred. Those 
who have seen the entrance to a beehive can realize the con- 
dition he was in. Although his attendant came to his relief 
as soon as I came, it did not clear him from the charge of 
cruel neglect. Let us hope that this case was an exception. 
_ June 28th, we were paid for two months, and during the 
time of being paid heavy skirmishing was in progress on our 
front near the railroad and on our right wing, which had now 
crossed to the south side of the Chickahominy. While active 
movements were being made to move the army to Harrison's 
Landing, on the James River, an attack was made upon the 
Forty-ninth Pennsylvania and the Thirty-third New York by 
the Seventh and Eighth Georgia, but they were repulsed 
with a loss of 100, while the two Georgia colonels with fifty 
men were taken prisoners. On the evening of the 27th the 
corps commanders received their orders as to the course 
of retreat, as agreed upon. General Keyes crossed White 
Oak Swamp Bridge in the forenoon of Sunday, the 2Sth, and 
took a strong position to defend the approaches when the 
enemy should appear. The different commands of the army 
were now with the army stores to be conveyed to the new 
base. 

Orders were given to leave a large supply of hospital stores 
and rations for the 2,500 sick who could not be moved. The 
necessity of such an order was to be deplored, but it was 
unavoidable, and the poor fellows had to go to Richmond by 
the aid of those who had for weeks prevented them from going 
of their own will. A herd of 2,500 cattle was sent safely to 
James River without loss. Porter's corps also crossed the 
swamp and was ordered to cover the road leading to Rich- 
mond The Second and Third corps were ordered to a new 
line about two miles nearer the swam]) than the old line. 
General Slocum's division, which had been sent from the 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 57 

Fourth corps to assist Porter, was, owing to its exhausted 
state, sent on over the swamp to join its corps. The Second, 
Third and Sixth corps were to cover Savage Station on the 
morning of the 29th, and to hold the enemy in check until 
the remaining wagons and troops could cross White Oak 
Swamp. Early on the morning of the 29th orders from the 
Third corps headquarters arrived, ordering Battery E to be 
ready to move at a minute's notice. At once we began to 
obey our summons. Leather washers were put between 
the hubs and linch-pins of the guns and caissons for the 
purpose of concealing our movements from the enemy. 
The guns and caissons were drawn by hand a short distance 
to the rear, when our horses were attached, and then we 
waited until daylight when we left camp and returned to near 
the old ground we occupied at Fair Oaks. The Parrotts were 
placed in a redoubt on the left of the Williamsburg road, the 
howitzers on the left of the same line, under Lieutenant Jas- 
tram. While here we were made aware of what we were 
ignorant of before. We learned that the whole army was to 
change its base of operations, which fact was freely circu- 
lated, doubtless to blind the common soldiers to the fact that 
we had been really defeated. It certainly had that effect 
with many. 

Before leaving the vicinity of our temporary halt the rebels 
were seen to emerge from the woods near the railroad, west 
of Savage Station. Soon after we started for Brackett's 
Ford. The howitzers two or three times unlimbered to the 
rear and waited until ordered forward. After our final move 
toward the swamp, in our haste we took the wrong road and 
had to return towards the enemy and take another road, which 
led us to Brackett's Ford, where we crossed between five and 
six p. M. After marching about two miles we encamped for 
the night. At ten p. m. we unhitched our horses and lay 
down to rest, which was needed by both men and horses. 

During the hours of our crossing the swamp Sumner's 
corps was fighting the battle of Savage Station, assisted near 
its close by Brooks' brigade of Third division, Sixth corps. 
At the close of the battle the enemy was forced to retire. 
During the nis^ht General Smith's division, the last of Frank- 
lin's corps, crossed the White Oak Swamp and posted his 
troops to defend the bridge against the approach of the 



5^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



[June, 



enemy. The next morning at ten a. m., the rear of Sumner's 
corps (Richardson's division), crossed the bridge and took 
position on Smith's left, to assist him in holding the cross- 
ings. Thus ended the fifth day's fighting before Richmond. 

The Union army having successfully held the enemy at 
bay, found itself on the morning of the 30th on the south 
side of White Oak Swamp, but its safety was not yet as- 
sured, for the enemy was in pursuit, one column, in com- 
mand of Jackson, following on the line of retreat. The 
other column moved down upon our right flank, with the in- 
tention of striking us at Charles City Cross Roads. Mc- 
Clellan having anticipated such a movement, had ordered 
General Franklin to take charge of the crossing at White 
Oak Swamp with his own corps (Sixth) to which was added 
Richardson's division of the Second corps and Nagle's brig- 
ade of the Fourth corps. Smith's division was posted on the 
right of White Oak Bridge, Richardson's division of the 
Second corps on the left, Nagle's brigade of the Fourth corps 
on the left of the road in front of Richardson's division. 
Hancock's brigade was posted across the Brackett's Ford 
road ; Hazzard's (C, Fourth United States), and Pettit's bat- 
teries were posted in front of the crossing. The enemy under 
Jackson opened fire with about thirty guns, which was at 
once replied to by Captain Hazzard, and later he was joined 
by Pettit's battery. Both batteries were severely handled by 
the enemy's batteries, but they maintained their position until 
ordered to retire. Captain Hazzard was mortally wounded. 
Several attempts were made during the afternoon to force a 
passage, but failed. The artillery continued to fire until dark 
and then withdrew. The enemy made no further effort until 
morning, when they found that the Union troops had left. 

If we, in this engagement, had been unsuccessful, our 
chances would have been very much endangered at Charles 
City Cross Roads, where another engagement" was in proo-ress 
about the same time. * 

The day before General McClellan had ordered General 
Slocum, of Franklin's corps, to post his division about one mile 
from Brackett's Ford, upon the right of, and at right angles 
to, the Charles City Cross Roads. Vicneral Kearny's division 
was posted on the left of Slocum, at nearly right angles with 
him. McCall's division joined Kearny's 'left. Hooker's di- 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 59 

vision, composed of Sickles's, Carr's, and Grover's brigades, 
were on the extreme left, his left swinging well to the front. 
General Sedgwick's division, two brigades of which had been 
sent in the forenoon on the double quick to Brackett's Ford 
to reinforce the troops there, had been ordered back in great 
haste, and was held in reserve in rear of McCall. Our total 
force in line was fourteen brigades. Opposed to us were 
twelve brigades under command of General Longstreet, with 
four brigades under General Huger, within supporting dis- 
tance. It was expected that Jackson would also be in time 
to assist, but he failed to arrive on account of obstructions 
that our troops had placed across the roads. Previous to and 
during the hours that our lines were being formed, Battery 
E, after being aroused before daylight, started at sunrise 
and soon after reported to General Kearny for orders, who at 
once ordered the battery to Birney's brigade, which was 
guarding a line extending two miles on the left of Slocum's 
division. Birney posted the battery well to the right of the 
Charles City Roads, in an open field, where we went into bat- 
tery and fired four shots into the woods in our front, through 
which we could see a column of rebel infantry moving towards 
our left. About noon we moved with the brigade a short dis- 
tance to the left into the woods, to cover a ravine. Had we 
been attacked here we should, doubtless, have been under 
the necessity of going into Richmond under a rebel escort; 
but to our great satisfaction we were soon, by the aid of axes, 
relieved from our entangled position and were ordered to 
General Kearny's headquarters. In the meantime the en- 
emy had opened with artillery on our right, in front of 
General Slocum. Anticipating that a heavy assault would 
be made, our captain, with the Parrotts of our battery, was 
sent to his support and relieved Porter's Massachusetts bat- 
tery, which had exhausted its ammunition. These two sec- 
tions, which were commanded by Lieutenants Arnold and 
Sheldon, were ably handled, and kept up a constant fire 
until late in the evening, firing about 460 rounds. The fight- 
ing at this point was mainly by artillery, and doubtless was 
intended to hold our right from reinforcing the left, where 
they were to make the principal attack. The Confederate 
record calls this the action at Brackett's Farm. Mahone's 



^° HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

and Armistead's brigade, of Huger's division, were the only 
rebel troops engaged, their loss being seventy-eio-ht 

VVhile ourParrotts were engaged on the right.^the left and 
centre were engaged in one of the most desperate battles of 
vr^r^'^tr ^he attack was commenced about three p. m., upon 
McLall s division, who was, as before stated, on Kearny's 
lett. His division consisted of the Pennsylvania Reserves 
who fought bravely until sunset, although their line wavered 
at times, and had to fall back a short distance before Lono-- 
street s superior force. They finally, by the aid of rein- 
torcements, succeeded in holding the enemy in check, but their 
brave and veteran commander, McCall, was taken prisoner 
he having ridden by mistake into the Fortv-seventh Viro-inia 
Regiment About four p. m. the attack began on our division, 
(Kearny s) in front of Robinson's brigade, composed of the 
Iwentieth Indiana, Eighty-seventh New York, and the Fifty- 
seventh, Sixty-third and One Hundred and f^fth Pennsylvania 
1 he brigade fought desperately against a superior f^rce for 
several hours. The Sixty-third Pennsylvania (Colonel Hays) 
was especially commended for daring charges made to protect 
Ihompson s battery, which was raking the rebel columns 
with double canister. It was now f^ve p. m. and our line 
was being hard pressed by the enemy, who seemed to be re- 
inforced. Berry's brigade, composed of the Second and Third 
Michigan, First and Thirty-seventh New York, now came to 
the assistance of Robinson, the First New York beino- placed 
to assist m supporting Thompson's battery, which wa^s being 
severely assailed. The contest continued with unremitting 
severity until seven p. m., when a part of Colwell's and 
Burns s brigade, from the Second corps, was sent to our re- 
iiet. Ihe rattle of musketry and the roar of artillery indi- 
cated clearly that a desperate effort was being made by the 
enemy to break our lines and capture our trains. While this 
desperate struggle was in progress General Kearny sent an 
orderly (A. Malpus) for our howitzers. I will now let Lieu- 
tenant Jastram speak for himself by quoting in full his re- 
port to Captain Randolph. [See page i6S, ist Series. Vol. 
n., Part Second, of Rebellion Records.] 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 6l 

Report of Pardon S. Jastram, Battery E, First Rhode Island Light 
Artillery, of the battle of Glendale, or JVelson's Farm {Frazier's 
Fa rm ) . 

Camp Near Harrison's Landing, Va., 
July 7th, 1S62. 

Sir : In accordance with your instructions on Monday, the 30th iilt., I 
remained with the howitzers in position in front of General Kearny's 
headquarters and awaited his orders. About half an hour after one of the 
General's aides* rode in at full speed from the field in front, with orders to 
bring in the howitzers as soon as possible and save the day. The neces- 
sary orders were given, and I started oft' at a quick trot, the aide continu- 
ally urging me to " hurry up." Passing through to the main road, and 
turning one side to allow the passage of Captain Thompson and his bat- 
terv, I entered the field on the right. On inquiring of the aide what posi- 
tion I was to occupy or where I should go, I could obtain no definite in- 
formation. The order was to " Fire towards the sun." The dense smoke 
covering every part of the field in front, prevented me from judging for 
myself where my presence was most needed. Accordingly, I moved to 
the front and right, gave the orders, "Action front and fire with spherical 
case, two seconds' time." But three cannoneers succeeded in accompany- 
ing each piece, and the corporal of the sixth piece was acting as Nos. 5, 6 
and 7. The lead driver also acted as No. i, and was obliged to leave the 
horses as soon as the piece was unlimbered. By some mistake, too, the 
piece had been loaded with canister which had to be fired into the air, since 
I knew not the position of our own men in our immediate front. The 
other charges of spherical case were thrown bevond into the woods. 

At this moment our men began to fall back on our left and front, and 
came between the pieces, so that [ could not work them. I then gave the 
order to limber to the rear, and at the same time some field officer ordered 
me to get my pieces out as quickly as possible. I saw the fifth piece leave 
the field safely', but the near wheel horse of the sixth piece had been hit 
when we first unlimbered, had fallen over the pole, and so entangled the 
harness that we could not draw the piece out. Accordingly, I gave orders 
to spike the piece, which was faithfullj' executed by young Harvey, of the 
sixth detachment; and, at the same time, Albert A.Hopkins, the lead driver, 
unfastened the lead horses from the swing team, one horse of which had 
also been hit, and brought them from the field. Definite orders as to the 
position I was to take upon the field would undoubtedly have made the 
howitzers of some service, while the want of such orders could not but 
make their presence of very little service. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

P. S. Jastram, 
First Lieutenant Battery E, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. 

While the howitzers were on the way out we were met by 
a column of troops, said to be the Meagher Irish Brigade, 
who were advancing on the double-quick, and went into the 
action with that vim which was characteristic of the Irish 
soldiers. Burns' and Dana's brigades of Sumner's corps were 

*It was an orderly, A. Malpus, Fourth New Jersey. 



62 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

of great value during the evening in holding the enemy in 
check. Kearny's old brigade from the Sixth corps, the gal- 
lant Jerseys, who were now commanded by Gen. Geo. 1v. 
Taylor, appeared upon the field in the evening and were 
ordered to occupy McCall's abandoned position!^ Althou^rh 
not severely attacked they gave the adjoining troops conli- 
dence that no danger would come to them by the breakino- 
of the Jersey brigade. Hooker's First division, althoucrh 
not so severely handled, was, nevertheless, m for their sha're 
of glory; each of his brigades, commanded by Grover, 
Sickles, and Colonel Carr, were conspicuous in daring action 
durmg the closing hours of the fight, which, by nine p m 
was virtually over. To the Third corps, and especial] v to 
Kearny's division, is due the honor of staying the strong arm 
of the exultant foe, who, at the commencement of the battle 
was confident of crushing McClellan's army and capturing a 
large part of his immense wagon trains. It is true that fhe 
lines remained at the close of the battle nearly where thev 
were at its beginning, and that both armies were in condition 
to renew the fight had it been necessary. The object sought 
by the rebels was to capture a large portion of the army and 
to destroy their wagon trains, in both of which they failed. 
Our motive was to protect our trains from destruction while 
en route to a new base on the James River, which we suc- 
ceeded in accomplishing ; therefore, by the law of logic, it was 
a victory for us. . * 

As much has been said relating to the action of Jastram 
in this engagement, I will again refer to it. Being one of 
the cannoneers who served on the fifth piece at the time in 
controversy, I can speak as an eye-witness. When the or- 
derly came for the howitzers at Kearny's headquarters, the 
cannoneers were scattered about the ground near the guns. 
When the order for drivers to mount was given, the cannon- 
eers, of course, started for their posts, but as the section 
started on the trot and was being constantly hurried forward. 
It was now going so fast that only three of the cannoneers of 
each piece could keep up, and they mounted themselves 
while on the trot at the risk of being run over. The distance 
was from one-quarter to one-half a mile to the field of action 
When we reached the field we beheld w.hat we had never 
seen before. Our engagements had been hitherto at lono- 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 63 

range between artillery ; but here was a desperate encounter 
going on between infantry and artillery combined at close 
quarters. The ground in the open field into which we were 
ordered was partially covered with sand, into which the mus- 
ket balls of the enemy were fast falling, and, as they struck 
the ground, sprays of sand were scattered in all directions, 
giving it an uninviting appearance. On entering the field 
Lieutenant Jastram's horse was seen riderless, and we sup- 
posed at first that Jastram had been shot, but instead he had 
dismounted and gone forward to seek a location for the 
pieces. Soon emerging from the smoke he took the section 
forward a short distance and gave the command, "action 
front," which was accomplished in as quick time as three 
privates, a sergeant and a corporal could be expected to obey 
the order. We had only time to fire five shots, two by the 
fifth piece and three by the sixth, when a field officer rode up 
and in a hurried manner gave the order to "get out as soon 
as possible for we were being surrounded." Although it was 
not so, I venture to say that few even of older and more 
experienced officers but would have pursued the same course 
that Jastram did. I think that all of us present supposed 
that the troops falling back in confusion through our line of 
artillery were being driven, and that the enemy would soon 
be upon us in force. The order of the field officer confirmed 
us in that supposition. Up to the time of the statement 
that we were being surrounded every man was doing his 
duty, but when told that we were being surrounded some 
confusion was manifest by the sergeant of the sixth piece, 
who gave the order to cut the traces (which was not obeyed) 
of the unwounded horses, and with drawn pistol pointed over 
his shoulder towards the enemy hastened the movement 
of his horses to the rear. Had it not been for the more 
steady nerve of Gunner C. P. Williams and private Albert A. 
Hopkins, and Martin Harvey, and some others, whose names 
I am sorry not to be able to give, the flight would have been 
of no credit ; but the bravery of the cannoneers and drivers 
saved its honor. Among the last to leave the position was 
Lieutenant Jastram, who manifested a commendable courage 
throughout. After the firing had ceased Lieutenant Jastram 
and Butler, of G (Second United States), attempted to reach 
the abandoned pieces, but the guard would not allow them to 



64 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

pass. The non-commissioned officers in this action were on the 
sixth piece, Sergt. G. E. Williams, Corp. Charles P. Williams, 
and Francis B. Butts ; on the fifth piece, Sergt. Joseph S. Milne, 
Corporals Geo. H. Burlingham and Geo.W. H. Allen. Burling- 
ham, the gunner, when we started for the field of action, said 
to Corporal Allen, " You take charge of the piece and I will 
soon be there," but he never came, although he had ample 
time to find us as the other men did who were left behind 
during the night. He was made prisoner and afterwards 
paroled. But no doubt existed in our minds that he deserted 
into the rebel hands intentionally. He was a constitutional 
coward, and how he ever became a corporal was a mystery. 
John H. Carney, an artificer, and Private Richard Poynton, 
were also taken prisoners. They returned to the battery 
Sept. 26, 1862, and Poynton was soon after discharged. Sub- 
sequently, while at Harrison's Landing, as Kearny was dis- 
satisfied with the loss of the howitzer, Lieutenant Jastram 
demanded a court of inquiry, which was granted, and held 
in August following. Col. Charles H. Tompkins being presi- 
dent. The findings of the court wei'e : first, that Lieutenant 
Jastram failed in not mounting his cannoneers before start- 
ing his section ; second, in unnecessarily abandoning his 
position ; third, in not making proper efforts to withdraw his 
piece that was lost. The court said in conclusion : " It 
appears, however, that in moving to the front and in opening 
fire on the enemy he acted with promptness and spirit ; that 
objects had then become very indistinct to the eye ; that 
confusion prevailed around ; that no one gave him sufficient 
information or any instruction for his guidance, and that his 
abandonment of the position was an error of judgment." 

McClellan approved of the findings, and ordered that no 
further proceedings be taken against him. 

I think the members of the battery at least, will be glad to 
have Captain Randolph's endorsement of the conduct of his 
officers and men in this battle. Quoting from his report to 
Kearny, he said : 

Of the general behavior of my officers and men during the foregoing 
action, I can only say, that in every instance where I could observe it, I 
wJis entirely satisfied. My men were cool and persistent, my officers col- 
lected and carefully attentive to tlie efficient working of tlieir sections. 
Where all did so well it is somewhat unjust to mention anv, and vet I can- 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 65 

not forbear to mention Lieut. W. A. Arnold, my first officer, for the cool- 
ness and determination he showed upon every occasion. I regret greatly 
the loss of one of the pieces of my battery, the more that I -was not present 
and am unable to judge from my own knowledge of the circumstances 
attending its loss ; yet the entire confidence that I repose in Lieutenant 
Jastram and in the non-commissioned officers of his section, makes me 
confident that the loss of the piece was a military necessity. I am the 
more completely convinced of this when I learn that one of Captain 
Thompson's pieces (an officer of well-known judgment and bravery) was 
left, although it was away from the field when Lieutenant Jastram entered. 
I feel confident that as Captain Thompson had personal charge of his 
battery there must have been good and sufficient cause for the loss of his 
piece and inine. 

George E. Randolph, 

Comviaiider Battery E, Rhode Inland Light Artillery. 

This act of Captain Thompson's in losing his piece 
was also censured by Kearny. This grew out of no intended 
injustice by Kearny, but he was so full of daring and cour- 
age that it sometimes overpowered his judgment, and made 
him seem uncharitable and severe. 



^^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 



CHAPTER VIII . 

July, 1862, 
Battle of Malvern Hill and Retreat. 

AT the close of the battle of Glenclale, or Charles City 
Cross Roads, as we usually call il, the Parrotts 
which had been sent to reinforce Slocum on the ricrht' 
started between twelve and one with Kearny's division" for 
Malvern Hill, which they reached at an early hour on July 
1st. The howitzer under command of Jastram and the re- 
maining caissons which had been under the charge of Lieut 
John K. Bucklyn, left the rear of the battlefielcf about two 
A. M. to join the right and centre sections which had pre- 
ceded them, reaching there at eight a. m. We found our 
battery comrades anxious to learn the result of our action 
after they left us the day before. Captain Randolph compli- 
mented Sergeant Milne and Second Corporal Allen for savino- 
their piece, and promoted Allen to first corporal in place of 
Burlingham, missing. After remaining at the centre of the 
line a short time we were moved further to the right to take 
our position with Kearny's division. Our troops* were now 
nearly all in position. As no map accompanies this narrative 
I will state only the general position as it existed on the 
morning of the ist of July. A few changes were made in 
the afternoon to assist Couch, among them were Meao-her 
and Sickles' brigades and two sections of our own battery 

_ Porter's Fifth corps held the left on Crew's Hill ; Couch's 
division of Reyes's Fourth corps joined Porter's right, Rich- 
ardson of the Second corps and Sedgwick were still further 
to the right. Next came Slocum's and Smith's divisions of 
the Sixth corps, the extreme right being held by Peck's 
division of Reyes's corps. McCall's division was now under 
command of Gen. Truman Seymour, and was in reserve at 
the right front of the Malvern House. Tyler's light sieo-e 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 67 

artillery was at the left of the Malvern House, on a line 
with Seymour. The batteries in reserve were on the west 
slope of Malvern Hill. Hunt's reserve artillery was on Mal- 
vern Hill in the rear of the centre of our lines. Battery C 
of our regiment, with three guns (having lost three at Gaines 
Mill) under Lieutenant Waterman (Captain Weeden being 
chief of artillery), were stationed on the extreme left, but 
later were sent to assist Couch's division. General Warren 
with his brigade, which had been reduced to less than seven 
hundred men, was stationed on the lowlands to the west of 
Malvern Hill. With him was one regiment of regulars and 
Martin's battery, and a detachment of cavalry. This com- 
mand was attacked on the 30th by General Holmes' division 
at Turkey Bridge (or Malvern Cliff), where the rebels were 
badly handled and made a hasty retreat, with a loss of several 
hundred. 

Heintzelman's Corps, which now consisted of only two 
divisions (Porter's First division having been taken May iSth 
to form a part of the Fifth corps), was virtually on the right, 
resting on Western Run, a small stream running through a 
low marshy land diagonally across our front on the right of 
Hooker. The junction of Hooker with this river formed an 
angle in our line. Beyond this angle Sumner's and Frank- 
lin's corps were in position. Although nominally at the right, 
they were nearly in our rear. Our battery was in position on 
Kearny's right. Thompson's battery, of our division, and 
Beam's reserve battery were with Hooker. Birney's brigade 
held Kearny's front line in rifle-pits except the Fourth 
Maine and half of the Third, who held the wooded ravine a 
little to the left of our position. Berry's brigade was held 
in reserve behind Birney's. Although not engaged, they lost 
about fifty men from the rebel artillery, whose shots passed 
over our battery into their ranks. Robinson's brigade was 
also in support of the same brigade, and especially Thomp- 
son's and our own battery remaining so until the attack on 
our left, when General Robinson led the Fifty-seventh and 
Sixty-third Pennsylvania and the Eighty-seventh New York 
to the support of Couch's division. Their loss was only 
twenty-three during the day. Opposite and beyond the river 
lay Poindexter farm, upon which there was a range of hills, 
from, the surface of which was developing a promising harvest 



^^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

of wheat. About eleven a. m. a battery appeared in view 
upon one of these hills, advancing one of its sections to the 
summit of the hill, and opened fire upon our battery We 
immediately responded to the challenge with such effect as to 
cause them to limber up and retire in great haste apparently 
with one gun dismounted. After a short interval three bat- 
teries, W. T. Poague's, Carpenter's, and Balthi's, of Whitino-'s 
division, appeared and renewed the attack with great enei^o-y 
for an hour or more. The shots mostly failed to reach us or 
passed over our heads into the ranks of Robinson's brigade 
causmg quite a severe loss. After an hour or two of silence 
(during which we disposed of our rations), the enemy's bat- 
teries again renewed the attack, and, being reinforced bv two 
more batteries, the contest became quite lively, and continued 
until after five p. m. with the exception of a few short inter- 
vals. The artillery of Heintzelman's corps was evidently the 
winners in this artillery duel. The loss reported in Poague's 
battery was two killed and ten wounded. Carpenter' s° loss 
was two killed and five wounded, with the loss of two horses 
besides the loss of two wheels. Reilley's battery lost twelve 
wounded. Courtney's battery became eng-aged about five p m 
Their loss was slight. Wooding's batte^ lost one or two 
These batteries were all of Whiting's division of Jackson's 
corps. Battery E, up to this time, had only one man killed 
He was acting No. i on the fourth piece (Sergeant Millen) 
He was struck by an exploding shell just as he was rammino- 
down the charge. His name was Joseph Harrop, and be- 
longed in River Point. He was an Englishman, and one of 
our best men. During the forenoon he seemed to be im- 
pressed that he would be killed, so much so that he asked 
Corporal Hargraves to take his pocket-book and send it home 
if anything happened to him. No effort of the corporal to 
convince him that he was as safe as himself could quiet him, 
and, to satisfy him, the corporal took the money, little think- 
ing that he would have to fulfill the request. 

As one howitzer was lost the day before, the two detach- 
ments served on the fifth piece, which was fired so rapidly 
that It required two, and sometimes three, to cut the shells 
fast enough to supply the demand. It finally became so 
heated that we had to cease firing and freely use water to cool 
It. The rapid firing of this piece evidently for a time caused 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 69 

one of the enemy's batteries to be concentrated upon it. 
Although the shot and shrapnel fell in showers about us, but 
few fell near enough to do us any harm. They must have been 
poorly supplied with good gunners, as our battery was not 
covered by any protection whatever. They should, with good 
practice, have caused us very much more damage. Notwith- 
standing our exposed position, every officer and private stood 
bravely at his post, none more so than Captain Randolph, 
whose every movement showed the best qualities of a brave 
and reliable commander. 

The infantry opposite to us upon Poindexter Farm was a 
part of Gen. T. J. Jackson's corps, composed of Whiting, 
Ewell, and Jackson's old division proper, which was still under 
his command. The brigades which composed this division 
were Winder's, Jones's, Wade Hampton's, and Gen. A. R. 
Lavvton's. Poague's and Carpenter's batteries were in 
Winder's brigade. Wooding's battery was in Hampton's 
brigade. Whiting's division contained Hood's and Col. E. 
M. Law's brigades. Balthi's and Reilley's batteries were in 
this division. Ewell's division was made up of Early's, 
Trimble's, and Taylor's brigades. Courtney's battery was at- 
tached to Trimble's brigade, which was the battery that at- 
tacked us at five p. m. The brigades in our front were en- 
gaged only in skirmishing, but their loss from Heintzelman's 
artillery was several hundred, one brigade losing one hundred 
and nineteen. 

In front of our left lay Magruder's corps and a part of 
Jackson's, which had not been idle during the contest. On 
Our right its artillery had been feeling for our weak points, 
with the intention of making an attack where it would be the 
most successful. They found our forces posted upon an ele- 
vated plateau about one and a half miles in length, the ap- 
proaches sloping gradually towards the north and east. Being- 
woodless it gave us a clear vision of the advancing columns 
of the enemy. The ground occupied by the enemy was 
swampy covered mostly by woods. The crossings over the 
swampy ravines were few and difficult. The woods were a 
protecting cover from our infantry, but our artillery made sad 
havoc in their ranks during these preliminary movements. 
Our army was now so strongly posted that it was content to 
await the coming: assaults of the foe. About the middle of 



70 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

the afternoon, Anderson's brigade, of D. H. Hill's division, 
made a rash advance upon Couch's division and were repulsed 
by the fire of the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment and a 
charge of the Thirty-sixth New York, who captured the colors 
of the Fourteenth North Carolina Infantry in a hand-to-hand 
conflict. Kingsbury's battery also assisted in this repulse. 
During the preliminary skirmishing Magruder's corps had 
been massed for a determined assault upon Porter and Couch. 
The signal for the attack was for Armistead (after the rebel 
artillery had silenced ours), to advance with a yell and carry 
the battery in his front. Gen. D. H. Hill, hearing what he 
supposed to be the signal, ordered his division to advance, 
but, for some reason, the commands on his right and left did 
not respond. After repeated assaults, finding himself over- 
powered by the concentrated fire of our artillery and infan- 
try, he retired with a fearful loss. It was now evident that 
the battle was to be finished on Porter's and Couch's front. 

We were soon made aware of this by the forces of Magru- 
der's corps advancing to the assault under cover of his artil- 
lery. Regiments and brigades, without regard to their loss, 
were advanced against our batteries, whose terrible and accu- 
rate fire mowed swaths of death in their ranks. A call for 
reinforcements brought Meagher's Irish and Caldwell's brig- 
ades from Sumner, Sickles's brigade from Hooker's division, 
and our four Parrotts from Kearny's division, to their sup- 
port. The Fourth Maine and four companies of the Third 
Maine, of Birney's brigade, with the Fifty-seventh, Si.xty- 
third and Eighty-seventh New York, of Robinson's brigade, 
who, in person, led them to the support of one of Couch's 
and De Russy's batteries. These supports were well timed, 
as some of our regiments had used up their ammunition. 
Column after column continued to advance against the de- 
structive fire of our artillery, and, when within range of the 
infantry, a withering fire greeted them with increased destruc- 
tion and caused them to retire in confusion. Some of our 
brigades followed after the retreating foe and captured their 
colors, in some cases at a severe cost to themselves. The 
contest was continued with unabated fury until nearly nine 
p. M., having brought into action the entire P'ifth corps. 
Couch's division of the Fourth corj^s, Meagher's and Cald- 
well's brigades and the artillery of Sumner's Second corps. 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 7 1 

Sickles's and a part of Birney's and Robinson's brigades, and 
our battery of Heintzelman's corps. In addition to these, 
the reserve artillery and Tyler's corps siege guns were active 
in promoting the success of the day. Opposed to these 
were twenty-five brigades and eleven batteries of the 
enemy's. 

The action of Battery E in this battle was a credit to the 
officers and men, they receiving great commendation from the 
division and corps commanders. In Heintzelman's report he 
said : " Towards dusk General Porter sent to Sumner for a 
brigade and a battery of artillery. These were sent. I added 
another brigade and battery of artillery (Randolph's) to ena- 
ble him to make the defeat more complete. All the troops 
under my command were exposed to this artillery fire. In 
General Kearny's division only the artillery and skirmishers 
were engaged. Captain Thompson managed his battery with 
the full genius of that arm, whilst Captain Randolph, with 
his Parrott guns, persecuted all that attacked him, silencing 
several times batteries that were sweeping our front or cover- 
ing their columns of attack on General Couch to our left. 
The Fourth Maine was particularly distinguished for its cool- 
ness in holding a ravine and repulsing the enemy's skirmish- 
ers on our right. In General Hooker's division the men be- 
haved with their usual coolness. The batteries were so placed 
that they were enabled several times to enfilade the enemy's 
artillery and infantry advance. We have to deplore the loss 
of Captain Beam, who commanded Battery B, New Jersey 
Light Artillery." 

Beam's battery formerly belonged to our division when it 
was under the command of Hamilton, and was associated 
with us at Alexandria. It was now in the artillery reserve. 
Here let me give an extract from Captain Randolph's report : 
"After a short rest, enough to water my horses and replenish 
ammunition boxes, I took position under direction of Cap- 
tain Thompson, Second Artillery, United States Army, on the 
left of the house occupied by General Kearny as headquar- 
ters on the first of July. Here I almost immediately engaged 
a battery of the enemy that appeared in the wheat-field op- 
posite, and one thousand or twelve hundred yards distant, re- 
ceiving in return a hot fire of shell and shrapnel, which, how- 
ever, was more destructive in front and rear than to us. 



72 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

Until afternoon I suffered no loss. I kept up a fire at inter- 
vals, whenever I saw in the opposite field any enemy to op- 
pose, until towards night, when General Couch engaged the 
enemy to our left. I was specially ordered to silence a bat- 
tery of the enemy that was covering their attacking columns 
and making havoc in our lines. I opened a sharp fire im- 
mediately, drawing the fire of the rebel battery from Couch to 
myself, and succeeded, after a short time, in silencing it alto- 
gether. Soon after my attention was called to a column of 
reinforcements going to the support of the enemy. Here, 
too, I had opportunity to do good service, as our previous 
practice had given us the range and elevation of the point at 
which the enemy's column entered the woods. Our fire 
ceased about 8.30 p. m., Tuesday, and, at two a. m., I moved, 
in company with Kearny's division, to Harrison's Landing, 
arriving there at about nine a. m., July 2d." 

No record of the number of shots fired by Battery E in 
this battle has been kept (so far as I know), but as the am- 
munition chests were refilled and again exhausted, there must 
have been two hundred, if not more, fired from each of the 
four Parrotts. The single howitzer fired about four hundred 
and fifty rounds. Our loss on the left, by the Parrotts, was 
three wounded, Henry Binns, Stephen W. Corp, and Charles 
E. White, the two former severely. Corp died from the ef- 
fect of his wounds, Dec. 24, 1866. Binns was wounded in 
the arm, and, if he had not protested, the surgeons would 
have amputated it. He was first sent to the hospital at 
Washington. In September he was sent to Portsmouth 
Grove Hospital, Rhode Island. In November he was ordered 
to Convalescent Camp, at Alexandria, where he was dis- 
charged in March, 1863. He afterwards obtained a pension 
of four dollars per month. April 5, 1864, he enlisted again, 
and reached the battery soon after, at Brandy Station. A 
reporter who visited the hospital reported him to be " one of 
the most cheerful and courageous little fellows that was ever 
carried to the rear." He was only thirteen years and eleven 
months when he first enlisted. 

No sooner had this battle ended than the troops began 
their march to Harrison's Landing. The Third corps re- 
ceived its orders to march at eleven a. m., but before the road 
was clear of other troops it was near four a. m. when the 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 73 

leading brigade started. Soon after it began to rain in tor- 
rents, causing the only road over which we had to march to 
become almost impassable. Notwithstanding our great vic- 
tory, the biographer of Kearny says, after having won such 
a victory, "The exulting troops looked forward to harvest- 
ing the fruits of their bloody toils, orders were given to re- 
treat to Harrison's Landing. Then, and not till then, the 
bonds of discipline seemed to be unloosed, and a disorderly 
rush ensued, which justified the remark that * in the storm 
and darkness the Union army fled from a victory as though it 
had been a rout.' " 

De Trobiand says, in his Four Years witJi the Army of the 
Potomac, " It was there (Harrison's Landing) that like a 
shipwrecked crew this army rallied," etc. 

An officer of Hooker's division states that corps, division, 
brigade and regimental staff officers were stationed at certain 
points to disentangle the snarled skein and reassemble 
the men under their proper commanders. Greeley says in 
his American Conflict, that " when the order for retreat was 
received some refused to obey the command. General Mar- 
tindale shed tears of shame. General Porter's devotion to 
his chieftain was temporarily shaken by this order, which 
elicited his most indignant protest." 

From the brave and chivalrous Kearny this order of re- 
treat drew forth the memorable words recorded by more than 
one historian, " I, Philip Kearny, an old soldier, enter my 
solemn protest against this order of retreat. We ought, in- 
stead of retreating, to follow up the enemy and take Rich- 
mond ; and, in full view of all responsibility of such a decla- 
ration, I say to you all, such an order can only be prompted 
by cowardice or treason." 

Some doubt the truth of the above protest by Kearny, 
which was attributed to him by Dr. Marks in his Peninsular 
Campaign, but his biographer slys that the truth of the state- 
ment has been confirmed by an officer of high rank in the 
regular army, who was present at the time. He says that 
" Kearny became so excited that he went on like a wild man 
at the idea of a victorious army abandoning the field to a flee- 
ing foe, and, in spite of every effort to restrain him, he gave 
vent to his indignation in sentences, of which the one quoted 
is the most severe." 



74 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

The saddest order given after this battle was that the dead 
and wounded were to be left on the field to the care of ?he 
enemy. This was the last of the seven days' fightin^ before 
theb.'t^le of n fr ^^'"i^-^ght June 25th! and is known ^ 

.).^".wu"^^^ occurred the battle of Mechanicsville On 
the 27th the severe battle of Gaines' Mill. On the 28th the 
action at Gannett's and Golding's farms. On the 2Qth was 

he Vy.lhamsburg Road, James River Road, and Jordan Ford 
On the 30th took place the engagement at Glendale, known 
also as the battle of Charles City Cross Roads, New Marke 
Road Frasiers Farm, or Willis Church. An engagement 
also took place at Turkey Bridge, or Malvern Cliffs? bet ween 
General Warren and the rebel General Holmes. On July is 
took place the final battle of Malvern Hill or Crew's Hill 
Ihe official war records give the following casualties in the 
foTcl o7V""a 25th to July 2d inclusiv?: The effective 

s?sted of cV ™^ "^ '^2 ^"^°"^^^' J""^ '^' '^^'^ ^°"- 
QOQ7C inf.'n ""-"^^f ''^' ^.5 1 3 cavalry, 6,446 artillery, and 
1:3^ IT \-1 ''^ '°5'^45. During the seven days' 
fighting before Richmond the Confederate army consisted of 
m regiments and 12 battalions of infantry, 71 batteries and 
12 regiments of cavalry. Their loss was: Killed, 3286- 
wounded, 15 909; missing, 940; total, 20,135. The strength 
r.nl.H ^°"^^^ie^^tes >s not officially stated, but it probably 
ranged from 80,000 to 90,000 effectives. The Union army 
consisted of 150 regiments of infantry, 2 regiments and 
r battalion of engineers, i regiment of siege artillery, 58 
ba enes and 10 regiments of cavalry. The loss was • 
fcS ^'734; wounded, 8062; missing, 6,053; total loss,' 
15.849- The Second corps loss was : Killed, 201 ; wounded 
1,195 ; missing, 1,024; total, 2,420. Fifth corps' loss was • 
Killed, 995 , wounded, 3,805; missing, 2,801; total, 7,601" 
I he excess of losses in this corps is largely due to its lar-e 

w^^ T-lf", '''/'""' ^°f '" prisoners. Sixth corps' loss 
was^ Killed, 296; wounded, 1,472; missing, 1,110; total, 
-,878 engineers and reserve cavalry loss was 177 The 
Third corps loss was: Killed, 158; wounded, r,02i- miss- 
ing, 794, total, 1,973. The Second division's (Hooker's) lo.ss 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 75 

was : Killed, 55 ; wounded, 412. Third division (Kearny's) : 
Killed, 96; wounded, 604; missing, 527; total, 1,227. The 
losses in the brigades of Kearny's division were: Robinson's 
First brigade: Killed, 56; wounded, 314; missing, 161 ; to- 
tal, 527. Birney's Second brigade : Killed, 10 ; wounded, 53 ; 
missing, 185 ; total, 248. Berry's Third brigade: Killed, 28 ; 
wounded, 225 ; missing, 176; total, 429. Battery E, Rhode 
Island Light Artillery : Killed, i ; wounded, 3 ; missing, 3 ; 
total, 7. Second United States Battery G : Killed, i ; wounded^ 
13; missing, 2; total, 16. Fourth corps' loss was: Killed, 
70; wounded, 512; missing, 218; total, 800. 

To the Fourth corps was assigned the duty of acting as 
rear guard, being stationed near Turkey Creek. This corps 
became really the new front. Before reaching this position 
the rearguard was under the command of Col. VVm. Averill, 
of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, who had, in addition to 
his four regiments of regulars under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Buchanan, Tidball's United States battery. To the vig- 
ilance of these commands is due the honor of permitting the 
Army of tbe Potomac to reach a harbor of safety. 



7^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



[J"lj> 



CHAPTER IX. 

July— August, 1862. 
Harrison's Landing and Battle of Kettle Run. 

THE night of July 2d found the troops of the army a^-ain 
united m one camp at Harrison's Landing. Althoucrh 
tired and weary, and sad over the loss of so many 
comrades, there was still left a brave and loyal army Bat- 
tery E had borne the trials and fatigue of the seven days of 
fighting with commendable courage. The officers of the 
battery had proved themselves an honor to any command 
and they did not propose to surrender the good standino- of 
the battery, which it had so honorably won. ^ 

On the morning of the retreat an incident occurred by 
which our comrade, Lester S. Hill, came near being captured 
by the enemy. Our battery had been stationed in a wheat- 
field, from which the wheat had been gathered into shocks 
which were utilized the night after the battle to furnish a bed 
as well as a covering. Comrade Hill laid down with others 
under an apple-tree, covering himself over with the wheat, 
and was soon wrapped in slumber. On awaking the follow' 
ing morning, he protruded his head out of the straw and 
found to his surprise that the battery had gone. He came 
out of that straw in the twinkling of an eye. He saw the 
direction the battery had taken by the imprints on the soft 
soil, and immediateiy took up the trail. Approaching an old 
barn, he saw some soldiers lying near clad in blue uniforms 
He stopped to arouse them, but they were sleeping the sleep 
that knows no waking, being stiff in death. Having been 
wounded in battle they had apparently crept to the old build- 
ing for shelter. 

After going about a mile, running as fast as possible, he 
met the Union cavalry pickets that had been left to watch 



)862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. ']^ 

the approach of the enemy. From them he learned the di- 
rection the army had gone, and hastened on, joining his bat- 
tery at Harrison's Landing, where his comrades had been 
wondering what had become of him, accounting for his ab- 
sence upon the supposition that there was nothing under the 
apple-tree but bundles of wheat, and as it was dark when the 
battery moved off, they supposed he had gone on. Comrade 
Hill is of the opinion that if his sleep in the wheat-field had 
lasted half an hour longer the rebel advance would have been 
upon him. As it was, by making good use of his legs, with 
which nature had well endowed him, and making quick time 
in the direction of the Union forces, he was enabled to es- 
cape being made a prisoner of war. 

Being wet and cold after our march through the rain and 
mud, we passed the day and night as patiently as circum- 
stances would allow. What the next movement was to be 
was a standing question, more easily asked than answered. 
The change of base to which we had listened so often during 
our retreat had lost its charm. It was a change not from 
choice but one of necessity, and had cost us over fifteen thou- 
sand men, forty pieces of artillery, thousands of arms, stores 
to the value of millions, to say nothing of the demoralizing 
effect upon the army and the encouragement it gave to the 
disloyal element at the North. July 3d, we were aroused 
from our anticipated quiet by the explosion of shells, which 
were being thrown into the camp a short distance to our 
right, and in the rear of the Harrison mansion, it being at 
that time the headquarters of General McClellan. Captain 
Randolph with two sections of his battery immediately 
moved to the point of attack and opened fire upon the un- 
timely intruders. Lieutenant Arnold with the right section 
was ordered in company with an infantry force to move upon 
their right flank and disperse them, which was accomplished 
by the infantry. No action was required by Arnold s sec- 
tion. We fired nearly a hundred rounds, by which time the 
infantry had put the intruders to flight. The rebel artillery 
that opened upon us proved to be Captain Pelham with one 
of General Stuart's howitzers. Our loss was only two or 
three horses slightly wounded. 

When we left camp to go into this action we were ordered 
to leave our knapsacks behind in camp. For some reason 



78 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

no guard was left in charge. When we returned we found 
that every knapsack had been rifled by some thievish com- 
rades, we losing thereby our changes of clothing and some 
articles which we had brought from home of precious value. 
Our baggage wagons joined us after being absent several 
days, bringing a much needed supply of forage. 

July 4th, although our Independence Day in name, in reality 
we had none, for we were the subjects (so far as movements 
were concerned) of the traitors of our country. Neverthe- 
less several of our batteries fired a national salute and the 
bands played national airs, which gave it the semblance of 
such. General McClellan also rode with his staff through 
the several commands, receiving the cheers of the troops 
while on his way. The staff officers of the several corps 
commanders were kept busy in locating their regiments and 
batteries, ourselves being moved back one mile to join the 
regiments of Kearny's division. 

July 5th all was quiet. The bands played familiar airs to 
cheer up the weary men. 

July 6th. The battery harnessed up all day, but made no 
move, the bands still continuing their music. 

July 7th. Hitched up at 2.30 a. m., so remaining until six 
A. M. David H. Macomber, who had been absent without 
leave since July ist returned to camp, but only remained un- 
til the 8th, when he deserted and enlisted in the navy under 
the name of John Smith. 

July 8th. President Lincoln visited the army. A salute 
was fired in his honor by several batteries, among them was 
our own. General McClellan and his staff accompanied the 
President, and they were invariably received with hearty 
cheers at every point. The bands also added to the enthusi- 
asm of the troops by the playing of patriotic tunes. 

July loth. Three men who had been absent without leave 
with Macomber returned. They were John F. Keegan, Jere- 
miah Potter and James H. Walsh. Potter was really a kind- 
hearted man and quite an expert at juggling, but he was in- 
clined to leave camp as though he was moved by a law of 
gravitation. Walsh was of more than ordinary ability and 
was quite an adept at rhyming, as the following extract from 
a poem entitled "To the Rhode Island Boys of Battery E" 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 79 

shows. It was probably written just after the battle of 
Williamsburg, although it is dated April 21, 1862 : 

" Now Rhody's sons with guns and howitzer, how they rattle, 

Are here ready night and day to meet our foe in battle. 

Our little state is dearlj' loved by every son and daughter. 

And well they may, for some books say our fathers dearly bought her. 

With Union hearts, and Union hands, come let us fight for glory. 

And if we die upon the field, our names on pages' story; 

But if Jetf 's shot and shell we miss, ah ! wont that be his blunder.' 

Then we'll advance with double quick and give them Yankee thunder. 

" Remember Father Washington who braved the Revolution, 
The patriot Father of our land, by balls he ne'er was frightened, 
And by his glory through that war the stars and stripes were brightened, 
I've stood beside the warrior's tomb, my heart swelled with emotion. 
Then cheer up boys, our land's yet free, just play up Yankee Doodle. 
Our battery's ready any time to march at sound of bugle; 
Commanded by our captain brave, we'll follow you brave Randolph ; 
Come, lead us forth through fire and smoke, we'll make the rebels stand 

oft". 
All Battery E as plain you see, loved you as their brother; 
We'll stand by you through life till death; come, let us pull together." 

During the remaining part of July the troops suffered much 
from the intense heat, the dust and flies, the thermometer 
ranging for days in succession at nearly 100 degrees, some- 
times reaching as high as 105 degrees in the shade. At one 
time the road over which we rode to water our horses was so 
dusty that it was with difficulty that we could see the horses 
next in front. Sickness also prevailed to an alarming degree. 
Malaria, typhoid fever and diarrhoea were the diseases most 
common. There were thirty at one time in our battery on 
the sick list ; one-half of the non-commissioned officers being 
among them. So many being, sick of course, added to the 
labor of those remaining well. Several were discharged on 
the surgeon's certificate, among them being David H. Col- 
vin, Isaac Cook, and Alexander Merchant. 

On the 14th of July we received about twenty detailed men 
from the infantry, among them were Henry Allen, John Mc- 
Allister, Joseph McCarty, Gould E. Utter, John Robinson, 
Richard Manly, Robert Jost, all from the Fortieth New York, 
and Jesse Drake from the Fourth Maine. 

On the 1 6th we again moved our camp about half a mile 
to the west, near some woods, which gave us some protection 
from the excessive heat. During; the evening after moving 



So HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

there was a tremendous thunder shower, which cooled the 
heated air from which we had suffered so severely. On the 
23d the Third corps was reviewed by General McClellan, who 
pronounced the corps as being under excellent discipline, 
although its ranks were much depleted by the losses in the 
late battles and its absent sick. On the 25th the battery 
was ordered to relieve a twenty-pounder battery, which was 
stationed in a fort at the front, while they attended a review. 
On the 27th two of our Parrotts were turned over to Lieu- 
tenant Clark commanding Battery B, First New Jersey. On 
the 28th we drew a full battery of twelve-pounder brass guns, 
our old Parrott guns having been condemned. On this day 
we performed the last rites over the remains of Corporal 
Albert H. Trescott, who died that morning of typhoid fever 
in the hospital, where he had been since the 22d. At the 
time of his death he was company clerk. To say that he was 
a true and brave soldier would be but a partial truth, for he was 
a young man of promise, whose character was irreproachable. 
But few men surrounded as he was would have so iirmly lived 
up to their convictions of duty. He was a religious man, but 
not given to intruding his thoughts upon others, but rather 
by example invited others to imitate his life. He was the son 
of John F. Trescott, who was for many years office clerk for 
the well known firm of Sackett & Davis, jewelers. At sun- 
set his remains were laid to rest near the camp with militar}' 
honors, Captain Randolph officiating as chaplain. His body 
was never taken to Rhode Island. 

The following promotions and changes were made Aug. i, 
1862 : Private Lester S. Hill was promoted to lance corporal 
of fifth detachment in place of George W. H. Allen, who was 
acting gunner in place of Corporal Burlingham, who was sup- 
posed to have deserted at Charles City Cross Roads ; Second 
Corporal Charles S. Winslow of first piece, transferred to 
second piece as gunner, vice Trescott, deceased ; private 
James Donnelly promoted to second corporal of first piece, 
vice Winslow transferred to second piece ; Second Corporal 
William H. Polk, of fourth piece, reduced by his own request, 
and transferred to hospital as nurse ; Second Corporal Ernest 
Simpson, of third piece, transferred to fourth piece, vice Polk 
transferred ; private George Humphrey promoted second cor- 
poral and assigned to third piece, vice Simpson transferred. 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 8 1 

August 5th, Sergt. George E. Williams, of the sixth de- 
tachment, who had been sick for several weeks, received his 
discharge. August 6th, First Corporal Charles P. Williams 
was promoted sergeant, vice George E. Williams. The day 
following Lemuel S. Greene was promoted gunner of sixth 
piece, vice C. P. Williams, advanced to sergeant. 

August 8th, soft bread was issued, the first since leaving 
Alexandria in March. This change was appreciated by us all, 
and, could we have had this constantly, it would doubtless 
have prevented much of our sickness. 

During the first week in August a slight improvement in 
the sanitary conditions were discernible, although many were 
still off duty. Several were in the hospital, among them 
Corporals Williams and Butts. Williams returned to duty two 
days before his promotion to sergeant. Butts about the same 
time was sent with others to the hospitals in the north, finally 
reaching Philadelphia, where he remained until October 5, 
1862, when he entered service in the navy, of which an ac- 
count can be found in the publications of the Soldiers and 
Sailors Historical Society of Rhode Island. 

A much larger number of the sick remained in camp strug- 
gling with malaria in its various forms, the writer being one 
of these. He preferred the kindness and care of his battery 
comrades to that of the hospital discipline, notwithstanding 
its superior facilities. 

Our life at Harrison's Landing was generally quiet, we hav- 
ing only occasional attacks upon our camps and lines of com- 
munications. The most noted of these was on the night of 
July 31st, when our camps and shipping opposite Coggins 
Point were shelled by the enemy, who had successfully placed 
(unknown to us) forty-one pieces of artillery in position, some 
of them within eight hundred yards of our shipping. Our 
first knowledge of their presence was when they opened fire 
upon our camps causing a great commotion. Their firing 
continued for nearly an hour. Our batteries and one gun- 
boat soon responded to their challenge, and after a warm con- 
test they gradually ceased firing and withdrew. Our loss was 
ten killed and twelve wounded. A few horses were killed 
and some slight damage was done to the shipping. The 
enemy's loss was only one killed and seven wounded. 

G 



^2 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug, 

The next clay McClellan sent a force across the river and 
took possession of Coggins Point and held it. Our cavalry 
supported by infantry, were almost daily sent out on 
reconnoisances on all the important roads leading from -our 
camps. The most important reconnoisance was made by 
General Hooker August 5th, with his own and Sedgwick's 
divisions, when he drove the enemy from Malvern Hilfand re- 
occupied it. Our battery and division were also under orders 
with two days' rations to support Hooker if necessary, but 
the division was used only to take the place of Hooker's 
troops that were on picket. The object for which the move- 
ment was made being accomplished, the troops returned to 
camp, having driven the enemy some miles back towards 
Richmond and taken about one hundred prisoners. The 
Unionloss was three killed and eleven wounded. 

During the remainder of our stay here but little service 
was required of us, except our usual camp duties and an 
occasional field drill, which, owing to the excessive heat 
usually took place at an early hour in the morning. Specu- 
lations were rife as to what the next movement %vould be. 
The usual conclusion arrived at was that the army would 
advance upon Richmond along the line of the James River, 
never supposing that we should so soon have to withdraw 
from tiie Peninsula. Later events revealed to us that even 
then orders had been given by General Halleck (who had on 
the nth of July been appointed to command the armies of 
the United States and assumed command on the 23d) to 
withdraw the army from the Peninsula to Aquia Creek 
This order was dated August 3d. Previous to this, on July 
30th, an order had been given to send away the sick {12,500) 
as soon as possible. This order for sending away the sick 
was supposed by McClellan to contemplate an offensive 
movement rather than a retreat, and it was the beginning of 
a long and somewhat acrimonious correspondence between 
McClellan and General Halleck, and it was not until the 14th 
of August that the first troops (Fifth corps) began to evacuate 
the position. McClellan confessed that it caused him the great- 
est pain of his life, and said that he was convinced that the 
order to withdraw the army to Aquia Creek would prove dis- 
astrous to our cause, and feared it would be a fatal blow. 
Previous to receiving these orders General Burnside arrived 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 83 

on the 8th at Newport News with two divisions from New 
Berne, N. C, and one division from Port Royal, S. C. 

On the 17th of July this command was organized into the 
Ninth Army Corps, its three divisions being commanded 
respectively by Generals Stevens, Reno, and Parke. Very 
early in August it left Newport News on transports, and, on 
the 3d and 5th, landed at Aquia Creek, at which time the 
corps numbered about thirteen thousand men. It immedi- 
ately proceeded to Fredericksburg and relieved King's divis- 
ion of McDowell's corps, which had been ordered to report 
to Gen. John Pope, who had assumed command of the Army 
of Virginia June 27th. The Fifth corps started on the 14th 
for Aquia Creek, marching direct to Williamsburg. When 
learning that General Pope was being hard pressed, he 
changed his course for Newport News, arriving there in 
three days. From here he transported his troops to Aquia 
Creek, where he arrived August 21st. On the 15th and i6th 
the remaining troops left the Peninsula, the Second and 
Sixth corps by way of Fortress Monroe and Newport News. 
The Fourth corps after leaving Harrison's Landing went to 
Yorktown, doing garrison duty. The Third corps left the 
Peninsula on the 15th, General Birney's brigade of Kearny's 
division taking the lead (the number of this division was 
changed from the Third to the First on the 13th of August) 
accompanied by one section of Randolph's battery, under 
Lieut. Wm. A. Arnold. It went as far as Jones's Bridge on 
the Chickahominy, guarding it until the remaining portion of 
the corps arrived at sunset, and encamped on a high hill 
until the next morning. At sunrise we broke camp and 
crossed the river and passed through a rugged and hilly 
country containing some splendid farms, upon which were 
growing fine crops of grain and a great variety of fruit, to 
which the troops helped themselves without any invitation. 
Neither did we forget that pigs and poultry were useful to 
hungry soldiers. Thus we continued on our pilgrimage of 
luxury until we reached the vicinity of Liberty and Camerhel 
churches, on the Diascund Creek, encamping here over night, 
although most of the infantry went on as far as Barhamville. 
On the I 7th the battery moved on, passing Barhamville at 
noon, reaching Burnt Ordinary, and remained until the next 
morning. Only a brick church remained standing, the other 



84 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

buildings having been burned with a large amount of ord- 
nance stores. From this incident it derived its name. It is 
ten miles from Williamsburg, where some of the infantry- 
reached before halting. The next morning we started at six 
A. M. and reached Williamsburg about noon and encamped near 
the town. On the 9th of May we left here on our way to 
Richmond with feelings far different from those we had now. 
We could but ask ourselves if all the blood shed and the 
millions of money expended, to say nothing of the sufferings 
borne by the soldiers, the anxious aching hearts at home, 
had not been worse than wasted. 

On the 19th we continued our journey, reaching Yorktown 
at about six p. m., and went into camp a short distance be- 
yond the town, where we remained until noon of the 20th. 
During the day the infantry of Kearny's division were being 
embarked for Aquia Creek, followed later by the rest of the 
troops, our battery being placed upon the schooners Memento 
and Village Queen and the brig John H. Allen. The infantry 
sailed as soon as they were embarked. Our battery remained 
over night and until noon of the next day, the 21st, sailing then 
past Fortress Monroe and up the Chesapeake Bay, reaching the 
mouth of the Potomac River at midnight, where we anchored 
until the morning of the 22d and started at sunrise, sailing 
up the Potomac in a light rain, reaching Aquia Creek at 
three p. m., where we had expected the corps to be landed ; 
but when Heintzelman arrived he received orders to hasten 
his corps forward to Alexandria. Accordingly, after an hour's 
delay, we started again and sailed until a very heavy shower 
in the evening made it necessary to cast anchor until the 
next morning. At sunrise we resumed our sail, and between 
ten and eleven a. m., of the 23d, reached Alexandria, where 
the infantry had arrived the day before. A part of Kearny's 
division started immediately upon cars for Warrenton Junc- 
tion, and the remaining infantry followed the next morning. 
Our guns were loaded upon the cars in the evening of our 
arrival, our horses not being loaded until the next morning. 
We slept all night on the depot platform, accompanied by 
Capt. Drake DeKay, of General Pope's staff, whose mam- 
moth signature was well known to the city soldiers of Wash- 
ington during the summer of i86r, when he was an adjutant 
of General Mansfield and signed all papers. He was brother 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 85 

to George C. DeKay, who had been appointed to the battery 
as lieutenant, Sept. 28, 1861, but declined commission; 
but afterwards served on the staff of General Williams, and 
was mortally wounded May 26, 1862, at Grand Gulf, Missis- 
sippi. Twelve buckshot entered his body, causing paralysis 
and his death a few weeks after. 

Our stay was necessarily short as orders to hasten the 
Third corps to General Pope's assistance had been received 
by Heintzelman when he first arrived. About noon the "all 
aboard" was sounded and two long trains of Heintzelman's 
brave troops started upon the Orange & Alexandria Railroad 
for Warrenton Junction, passing through Burke and Fairfax 
stations, Manassas Junction, then through Bristoe and Cat- 
lett stations to Warrenton Junction, where we arrived at 
three p. m. on the 24th, having been three hours in reaching 
our destination of forty miles. We immediately unloaded 
and went into camp near the station. 

The Third corps was now acting with the Army of Vir- 
ginia, with which it sustained its reputation as a fighting 
corps. Whatever may be said of other corps commanders, 
no suspicion of disloyalty was ever known to exist against 
any of its generals. The record of the old regiments that 
were with us at Fair Oaks was never excelled by any other 
command. Since then a few changes had been made in 
Kearny's division, in no way to its disadvantage. The addi- 
tions were the First New York Volunteers, who joined 
Beirry's brigade June 3d. The One Hundred and First New 
York and Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania joined Birney's brigade; 
the former June 9th, the latter July 5th. The Twentieth 
Indiana became a part of Robinson's brigade on the loth of 
June. The Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania was transferred from 
Robinson's first brigade to Birney's second. Thompson's 
Battery G, Second United States, was relieved July i8th, 
its place being filled by Graham's Battery K, First United 
States Artillery. Clark's battery (formerly Bean's) was re- 
lieved in June and placed in the artillery reserve. 

A brief statement relating to the Army of Virginia may 
not be out of place here. The Army of Virginia was organ- 
ized on the 26th of June, 1862, General Pope assuming com- 
mand, as before stated, on the 27th. It was composed of the 
departments of the Mountain, Rappahannock, and Shenan- 



86 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

doah, which had been under the commands of Banks, McDow- 
ell, and Fremont. The latter immediately resigned and was 
succeeded by General Sigel. It was divided into three corps, 
the first being commanded by Sigel, the second by Banks, 
the third by McDowell. Stonewall Jackson's forces having 
gone to reinforce Lee at Richmond, the commands of Sigel 
and Banks were ordered to concentrate on or near the Rap- 
pahannock River, McDowell being already at or near Fred- 
ericksburg. In order to assist McClellan to withdraw from 
the Peninsula, the forces under General Banks had advanced 
about ten miles south of Culpepper, where he was met by 
General Jackson's and A. P. Hill's forces, and August 9th 
the battle of Cedar Mountain was fought. The defeat of 
Banks made it necessary that Pope's command should fall 
back beyond the Rappahannock, which was successfully 
accomplished, although not without several minor engage- 
ments by General Sigel, the most important being at Sulphur 
Springs and Waterloo Bridge, on the 23d and 24th of 
August, 

After the battle of Cedar Mountain Jackson retired to 
Gordonville and awaited the arrival of General Lee, who had 
left Richmond with the main portion of his army about the 
same time that McClellan commenced his retreat. Lee's ob- 
ject was to crush Pope's command before it could be rein- 
forced by the Army of the Potomac. Upon the arrival of the 
rebel army in his front. General Pope to protect his lines of 
communication had to fall back to near Warrenton Junction. 
Pope had not at this time received any reinforcements, ex- 
cept Burnside's command. Such was the situation when the 
Third corps began to arrive on the 22d, Kearny's division be- 
ing the first to reach Pope's army. On the 26th, two days 
after our battery arrived, Heintzelman's whole corps had 
reached the Junction and the several commands were at once 
ordered to such points as the situation required. Battery K, 
having been ordered from the Junction on the 25th, found 
itself on the morning of the 26th some five miles from its 
starting point on the railroad in the direction of Rappahan- 
rock River in camp near Birney's brigade. In the morn- 
ing the right section, under the command of Lieutenant 
Arnold, was ordered to Rappahannock Station where they 
found the bridge across the river burned. They were to 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 87 

assist in guarding it against the threatened attack of the en- 
emy. The other two sections remained as they were in the 
morning, comparatively idle, the only exception being that 
our quartermaster (C. A. Brown) made a raid upon some 
Secesh cows, capturing three and bringing them into -camp 
as prisoners of war. No proposition being made for an ex- 
change, we proceeded to confiscate them by the usual meth- 
ods relating to such captures. 

It was supposed at this time that the enemy's entire force 
was on the south side of the Rappahannock, and not until 
near night did we realize our mistake. We then learned 
that a rebel force was in our rear and had already captured 
Bristoe Station, taking a few prisoners and capturing two 
trains of supplies. The third train made its escape by dashing 
against the obstructions which had been placed upon the 
track, and was soon beyond reach. After destroying our sup- 
plies at this station, a force of 500 infantry under General 
Trimble, supported by a portion of Stuart's cavalry, turned 
their attention to Manassas Junction where our army had an 
immense quantity of supplies of all kinds, with but a small 
force to protect them. Resistance was useless by the small 
force present, the eight pieces of artillery being taken at the 
point of the bayonet. General Lee reported the results of 
this raid to be eight pieces of artillery, with their horses and 
equipments, more than 300 prisoners, 175 horses, besides 
those belonging to the artillery, 200 new tents, with an im- 
mense quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores ; 50,- 
000 pounds of bacon, 1,000 barrels of beef, 2,000 barrels of 
pork, and 2,000 barrels of flour were burned. The next day 
General Taylor commanding the First brigade of Slocum's 
division of the Sixth corps, was sent with his commafid on a 
train from Alexandria to drive away the raiders (as they sup- 
posed) and recapture the supplies. In attacking the enemy 
he found them in strong force and was obliged to retire with 
a loss of two hundred prisoners and the train which had 
transported them, being himself mortally wounded. Further 
depredations followed in the destruction of Bull Run Bridge 
and the tearing up of the track at several points on the 
Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Fitz Hugh Lee's cavalry 
went as far as Fairfax Court House on the turnpike and 
to Burke's Station on the railroad, destroymg the telegraph 



oo HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

lines as he advanced, thereby severing communication with 
Alexandria. It was not supposed while this destruction was 
in progress that it was any thing more than a strong raiding 
force of the enemy's cavalry. By the morning of the 27th it 
was known that something more than a raid^ing movement 
was intended. Subsequently it was learned that Stonewall 
Jackson started on the 25th from the Rappahannock River, 
making a circuitous route around the right of Pope's army 
passing through Thoroughfare Gap on the morning of the 
26th, then taking a course at right angles with the previous 
day's march, passing between Pope's army and Washington, 
striking our line of communication at Bristoe Station, with 
the result which has been stated. Jackson's forces in this 
raid consisted of three divisions commanded by Ewell, A. P. 
Hill, and Jackson's old division commanded by General Talia- 
ferro. Seventeen batteries and two brigades of cavalry accom- 
panied this force. 

On the morning of the 27th, being satisfied that Long- 
street's corps had left its line on the south side of the 
Rappahannock, and was en route to join Jackson, whose 
troops were then at Bristoe and Gainesville, General Pope 
abandoned his own line on the north of the Rappahannock, 
and ordered his army to concentrate on a line from Gaines- 
ville to Manassas Junction. McDowell's corps, which was 
then near Waterloo Bridge on the Hedgeman River, was 
ordered to Gainesville. General Reno, of the Ninth corps 
and Kearny's division, was ordered to move on Greenwich so 
as to reach there by night and then to report to McDowell. 
Hooker's division, which lay a few miles below Warrenton 
Junction, was ordered to move along the line of the railroad 
towards the Junction. Captain Randolph, with the centre 
and left sections of his battery, was ordered to move with 
Hooker's division joining it near Catlett Station, with a part 
of Robinson's brigade of Kearny's division. 

Lieutenant Jastram early in the day had been ordered bv 
Captain Randolph to report to Colonel Poe commanding 
Berry's brigade, who was absent on sick leave. Soon after 
reporting, firing being heard in the rear, he was ordered to re- 
port to General Hooker, who was on the advance, as soon as 
possible. He did so, and ascertained that his were the only 
guns then with Hooker, and also that the rebels were in our 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 89 

rear near " Broad Run," and that the general was ordered by 
General Pope to find them. Hooker moved his infantry 
across Kettle Run and advanced cautiously till meeting the 
enemy's videttes, driving them from the hills when the at- 
tack commenced. Captain Randolph now came up with the 
centre section under Sheldon. We then advanced a short dis- 
tance beyond Kettle Run and found a division of the enemy 
under command of General Evvell in line of battle ready to re- 
ceive us, with all the daring for which that division was noted. 
As soon as we were in range of the enemy's batteries they 
opened upon us a rapid fire, to which Captain Randolph 
promptly responded with his two sections. In the meantime, 
Colonel Carr commanding Hooker's Third brigade had de- 
ployed and was briskly skirmishing with the enemy in the 
woods on the right of the railroad, who gradually retired as our 
line advanced. Further to the left the enemy appeared in 
force and were met by General Taylor's brigade (Excelsior) 
when the battle commenced with renewed fury along the entire 
line. Our battery in the meantime was in position about one 
thousand yards from the enemy's batteries, whom we were 
fighting with solid shot, causing them to retire across Broad 
Run upon a range of hills overlooking our position. We 
then limbered up, and, after a short rest, advanced and went 
into battery upon a knoll, again attacking the enemy's artil- 
lery across the river, whose shots were well directed and went 
ricochetting through our battery with a disagreeable familiar- 
ity, one of these shots striking Corp. Lemuel S. Greene and 
private John Brannan of the left section, giving them mortal 
wounds. The infantry in the meantime were pushing the 
enemy, who were stubbornly resisting our advance ; but they 
fell back before the veterans of Hooker's division, retreating 
across Broad Run, and continued their retreat to Manassas 
Junction, where Jackson still remained with the rest of his 
corps. Our battery was supported in this action by seven 
companies of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Regiment of Rob- 
inson's brigade, the other company being deployed as skirm- 
ishers on the left, seven companies of the One Hundred and 
Fifth Pennsylvania and three companies of the Eighty-seventh 
New York were supporting Durell's battery, which, with our 
two sections and Capt. J. C. Clark's Battery E, Fourth United 
States, were the only artillery engaged. with the Union forces 



90 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

in this battle. Evvell's division consisted of twenty-tliree 
regiments of infantry and six batteries. Hooker had under 
his command only eighteen regiments and three batteries. 
The losses on each side were about three hundred. 

During a rest between our actions the enemy's sharp- 
shooters had a range upon our battery, which caused the 
officers and drivers to dismount in order to be less exposed 
to their bullets. None were effective, however, except one, 
which cut in two a halter buckle on Lieutenant Jastram's 
horse. 

_ Battery E never fought better than in this action, receiv- 
ing due credit from Kearny, who said in his report: "On 
the 27th, with two sections and Robinson's First brigade, 
Captain Randolph, had powerfully contributed to General 
Hooker's success at Bristoe Station." The short and very 
modest report of Captain Randolph reads as follows, viz. : 

" Camp Near Cextreville, Va., 1 
Aug. 31,1862. ,• 

biR :— I have the honor respectfiill v to report that, in accordance with 
orders from General Kearny, I reported mv battery to General Hooker, 
near Catlett s Station, on the 27th inst., and proceeded, under his direc- 
tion, along the road to the left of the R. R. towards Bristoe Station The 
enemy having been previously discovered on the right of the R R., was 
found upon our advance to have its batteries on prominent hills to the 
tront and right of our advance. I occupied a position about one thousand 
yards trom a battery in our front, and opened fire with solid shot from 
SIX (4) Napoleon guns. After a very few discharges the enem v withdrew 
its battery, and, proceeding to a range of hills across Broad Run, re- 
opened fire. Meanwhile, I threw a few shots into his cavalry as it retired 
supporting the battery. After changing position to a more commanding 
hi , a little to the front and right, I engaged two batteries placed on the 
nius opposite His fire was severe from two difterent points, but a well- 
directed fire of shell and solid shot compelled him to retire hastilv. My 
loss was two men killed. Expenditure of ammunition about one hundred 
and hlty rounds, mostly of solid shot. 

With great respect, I have the honor to be 
Your obetiient servant, 

George E. Randolph, 

Ciittain C omnia ii.il, or BatUry E, First Rhode Island Artillery. 

After the close of this action the battery crossed Broad 
Run, and went about one mile, and encamped upon the rebel 
battlefield, arriving there at dark. I'revious to crossino- the 



t862.] first R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 9I 

Run our brave comrade, Brannan, after a short interval of 
great agony, during which his entreaties to be given some- 
thing to shorten his sufferings were agonizing, died, and was 
buried under the shade of a small tree near where he was 
shot. He was a good soldier and joined the battery as a re- 
cruit June 26, 1862, while we lay before Richmond.* He en- 
listed from Seekonk, Mass. Corporal Greene was carried 
upon a stretcher by his comrades to where we encamped. 
Although suffering severely, he was heroic to the greatest de- 
gree, reaching almost to cheerfulness. He died soon after 
reaching camp without a struggle, apparently, from loss of 
blood. As this action was somewhat unexpected, no medical 
stores were on hand. If there had been it is quite possible 
that his life could have been saved, although it would have 
been necessary to have amputated his leg. In the sixth de- 
tachment, to which he belonged, the men who had enlisted 
from the town of Scituate gave to him a brother's care, and 
tenderly laid away his body under the shadow of a tree, placing 
a suitable head-board to mark the resting-place of their beloved 
comrade. Brannan, who was No. 5 on the same piece, was 
killed by the same shot while they were in the act of moving 
the piece forward from its recoil. 

This battle is officially known as the battle of Kettle Run, 
but is as often called Broad Run. The action took place be- 
tween the two rivers. Kettle Run is the middle one of three 
forks which form the source of the Occoquan Creek. Broad 
Run (north fork) crosses the Orange & Alexandria Railroad 
just north of Bristoe Station. Kettle Run crosses about 
two miles below. Cedar Run (south fork) follows the line of 
the railroad four miles on the east, until nearly opposite War- 
renton Junction, when it turns at right angles and runs north 
of the junction. Broad and Kettle Run come together and 
form one stream about two miles east of Bristoe Station, then 
forming one river for about one mile before reaching Occo- 
quan Creek. It was near this junction of the two rivers that 
the right of our army fought. 

*With Br.innan, on the 26th, came the following recruits: James S. Campbell, Georjje 
H. nig-gins, Benjamin Judd, George H. Kelley, William 11. King, Edward McCaft'ery, 
Patrick Sullivan, Cornelius Sullivan, John B. Saunders, Edward Teague, Michael Dillon, 
John Groves, and David Ronan. 



92 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [ Auj 



CHAPTER X. 

August, 1862. 

Second Battle of Bull Run. 

ATjiine A. M., on the 28th, our battery left near Bristoe 
Station for Manassas Junction, which we reached 
about noon, halting for awhile, and fed our horses 
Three burned trains were still smoking when we arrived 
While resting here an incident occurred which was not cred- 
itable to one of the actors. Not far from our restino-.pjace 
a weary cavalryman had hitched his horse, and, lyin* down 
near by to rest, had fallen asleep. While in this co'iidition 
one of our corporals stealthily approached the horse un- 
hitched and led it away. How the horseless trooper man- 
aged after awaking we never knew, but I venture he never re- 
peated that part of the Lord's Prayer which reads, " Forcrive 
those who trespass against us." '^ 

While awaiting orders to move, Kearny's and Reno's divi- 
sions arrived from near Greenwich. Soon after noon the 
forces here moved on towards Centreville, where we arrived 
during the early evening, one gun of our battery being placed 
in an old fortification and the others outside in battery. 

Here we remained through the night. Kearny's infantry 
encamped just west of the village. Hooker's division halted 
on the Bull Run about three miles south of Centreville. The 
right section, which was sent August 26th on picket duty on 
the Rappahannock, returned and joined the battery in the 
evening at Centreville, being well supplied with turkevs 
which they had obtained by methods well known to every 
wide-awake soldier. It is needless to add that some of their 
comrades, the officers in particular, did not sleep on empty 
stomachs that night. I can learn but little of their duties 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 93 

while absent. General Ward, in his report relating to the 
movements of his regiment before the battle of Bull Run, 
speaks of a section of Randolph's battery which may refer to 
Lieutenant Arnold's section. He says, having reached Bull 
Run from Manassas Junction on the 28th : " General Kearny 
arriving on the ground, directed me to cross the run and to 
take an advanced position on an eminence to protect a fork of 
the roads on which General Birney had advanced with the 
cavalry. After taking position, a section of Randolph's bat- 
tery arrived, and the regiment took position for its support. 
Suddenly a portion of the enemy's cavalry appeared in sight 
under full charge, and, approaching within a sufficient dis- 
tance to discover the reception awaiting them, suddenly 
wheeled their horses and retreated amid the dust. 
My command, about an hour afterwards, advanced to Centre- 
ville and encamped for the night." Reno's division, of the 
Ninth corps, was encamped one mile south of Centreville. 
Reynolds's division was at Newmarket, five miles southwest 
from Centreville. Sigel was near Groveton, about the same 
distance as Reynolds, but about one mile to the north. 
King's division lay on the Warrenton pike, two miles south- 
west of Groveton. General Rickett's division was about 
three miles in front of Thoroughfare Gap, watching Long- 
street, whose corps was then coming through the gap. 
Taylor's brigade was at Fairfax Court House. Stonewall Jack- 
son's corps, which had left Manassas Junction during the 
night and early in the morning, was now at the old battle 
ground of July 21, 1861, his left resting on Catherpen Run, 
near Sudley Mill, his right reaching near to Warrenton pike 
and in close contact with General King's division of Mc- 
Dowell's corps, with which he had a sharp encounter just at 
night, darkness closing the contest, both parties holding their 
ground. Banks's corps lay on the railroad at the crossing of 
Kettle Run. Porter's corps was stationed just north of Bris- 
toe Station. 

Such was the situation in the evening of the 28th of 
August, 1862, During the night Porter's corps advanced 
to Manassas Junction. King's division fell back to the same 
place. General Lee, with Longstreet and his corps, was 
now east of the Bull Run Mountain with no force between 
him and Jackson, as Ricketts had retreated towards Bristoe 



94 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

Station during the night. At daylight on the morning of the 
29th General Kearny left Centreville and its vicinity for the 
battlefield, our battery leaving at sunrise. We took the 
Gainesville pike, crossing Stone Bridge, reaching the scene 
of action about the middle of the forenoon, and halted upon 
the ground near where the First Rhode Island Infantry were 
engaged at the first Bull Run battle, July 21, 1861. Three 
hours before our arrival the divisions of Generals Schenck, 
Steinvvehr, and Schurz, of Sigel's First corps, had been hotly 
engaged with- Jackson's forces, and had adv-anced their line 
over one mile. The enemy then appeared with heavy rein- 
forcements and made a determined effort to turn his flanks. 
The struggle was now desperate and extended along the 
whole line. It was at this crisis that Kearny arrived and was 
ordered to the right. General Reno with his division of the 
Ninth corps arrived about the same time and was posted to 
support Sigel. The contest continued until near noon, 
neither side having during the last hour made any gain. 
General Pope arrived about one o'clock p. m., at which time 
our troops were nearly out of ammunition, A supply was 
obtained and soon after the fighting was renewed. Two 
hours before General Pope arrived General Lee had arrived 
with General Longstreet's corps and took his position on 
Jackson's left, thereby disarranging the plans of the com- 
manding general, who had previously ordered the corps of 
McDowell and Porter to advance and attack Jackson on his 
right flank. These two corps failing to arrive as anticipated, 
caused much anxiety to Pope. About two p. u. McDowell 
was reported to be advancing on the Sudley road to a point 
on Jackson's left, and not hearing from Porter, who should 
have been at this time in front of the enemy, at 4.30 Gen- 
eral Pope sent a peremptory order to General Porter, who 
was about four miles distant, to push forward at once into 
action on Jackson's right, and, if possible, on his rear. After 
waiting until about five p. u., to give Porter time to reach the 
enemy's front, Heintzelman and Reno were ordered to attack 
Jackson's right. The infantry of this command had been to 
the front since their arrival. About four ]'. m. our battery 
was ordered to advance and hold itself ready for action. 
Accordingly we moved slowly forward upon the Manassas and 
Sudley Spring road, which ran through the woods towards the 



'S62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 95 

extreme right. After passing through the woods we came to 
an open field which was skirted on the south and east by 
woodland. The unfinished railroad upon which Jackson's 
troops were in battle array ran diagonally across our front 
on the north and west of this open space. A hollow ran 
through the field parallel with the unfinished railroad. The 
western part of this hollow field was where we went into bat- 
tery and immediately commenced firing. This at once drew 
upon us a rapid fire from a battery on our front, whose shots 
mostly passed over our heads, more endangering the caisson 
drivers than it did the cannoneers. After a short time 
another long range battery of the enemy opened upon us from 
a point further to our left, their shots passing diagonally across 
our battery, whose shots, in addition to those from the battery 
on our front, made it decidedly uncomfortable, notwithstanding 
every officer and private stood bravely to his work. This 
engagement lasted about half an hour. Although sharp and 
severe our loss was only one man killed. Our escape from a 
serious loss was mainly due to the enemy's too high eleva- 
tion, but their line shots were excellent. That no more were 
hurt seems almost a miracle. The fifth piece barely escaped 
a serious accident. Having placed some solid shot near the 
muzzle of the gun during the firing, the cartridges by some 
means ignited and exploded, doing no damage, although for 
a moment we were somewhat startled. Had this ammunition 
been shell or shrapnel with cut fuses, the result would have 
been more serious. 

Our action at this time was in support of a movement of 
Kearny.'s to drive the enemy out of the woods on the right, and 
if possible turn Jackson's extreme left. The assault was 
made by Birney's and Robinson's brigades, the P'ortieth New 
York being on our immediate left. Our battery was sup- 
ported by six companies of the Third Maine. Robinson's 
brigade was on the left of Birney, holding the line firmly, 
while Birney advanced and drove Hill's division back across 
the railroad and on beyond the Lewis Lane road, doubling 
his left back at a right angle with his main line. This left 
Birney's brigade so much exposed that on General Hill's 
being reinforced by Early's and Lawton's brigades, Birney 
during the night withdrew his brigade to its original position. 
After Kearny's success our battery withdrew to where we 



96 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

halted upon our arrival on the field. In this assault many 
of these regiments had only from two to four hundred 
when they entered the fight ; after the assault they had only 
enough to form two companies, the First New York going 
into the fight with only two ofificers and eighty-five men, 
being commanded by Major Burt of the Third Maine. That 
this assault of Kearny's division was determined and severe is 
well sustained by the reports of Gen. A. P. Hill, who was in 
command of the assaulted position. Hill says : " The most 
persistent and furious onsets were made by column after col- 
umn of infantry, accompanied by numerous batteries. Soon 
my reserves were all in, and up to six o'clock my division, 
assisted by the Louisiana brigade of General Hay's, com- 
manded by Colonel Forno, with a heroic courage and obstin- 
acy almost beyond parallel, had met and repulsed six distinct 
and separate assaults, a portion of the time a majority of the 
men being without a cartridge." The two batteries that 
attacked us were Braxton's of Fredericksburg and Crenshaw's 
(Virginia) battery. Latham's battery, of North Carolina, with 
Braxton's were also engaged against our infantry. Hooker's 
division arrived about ten a. m. His first brigade (Grover's) 
was at once ordered to General Sigel's support, who was on the 
left of Heintzelman. About three p, m. the brigade advanced 
through an open field to the railroad, beyond which lay the 
enemy. Grover says in his report: "We rapidly and firmly 
pressed upon the embankment, and here occurred a short, 
sharp and obstinate hand to hand conflict with bayonets and 
clubbed muskets. Many of the enemy were bayoneted in 
their tracks, others struck down with the butts of pieces, and 
onward pressed our lines. In a few yards more it met a ter- 
rible fire from a second line which in its turn broke. The 
enemy's third line now bore down upon our thinned ranks 
in close order, and swept back the right centre and a portion 
of our left. With the gallant Sixteenth Massachusetts on 
our left I tried to turn his flank, but the breaking of our 
right and centre and the weight of the enemy's lines caused 
the necessity of falling back, first to the embankment and 
then to our first position, behind which we rallied to our 
colors." In this fierce encounter of not more than twenty 
minutes' duration, this brigade lost 4S6 men. General Heint- 
zelman, in his report, says : " It was on this occasion that 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 97 

General Grover's brigade made the most gallant and deter- 
mined bayonet charge of the war." 

The other brigades of this division were in support of 
Grover doing excellent service, although with less casualties. 
Late in the afternoon King's division of McDowell's corps, 
commanded by General Hatch, made an attack upon Jackson's 
right which was warmly contested by the enemy, and lasted 
until late in the evening, both sides claiming to have made 
successes. It was supposed by General Pope and other 
•officers of high command that the enemy were preparing to 
retreat during the night. Orders to be ready to pursue them, 
should the supposition prove correct, were sent at once to 
the several commands. When the morning of the 30th 
arrived this was discovered to be one of the many mistakes 
which characterized this battle. Owing to Jackson's capture 
of our provisions at Manassas on the 26th, we were on the 
morning of the 30th very short of rations. On the 28th 
Pope telegraphed Halleck to send rations and forage as soon 
as possible, and not until daylight of the 30th was an answer 
received, asking for an escort of cavalry to protect them while 
on the way. Pope says : " Such a letter when we were fight- 
ing the enemy and Alexandria was full uf troops, needs no 
comment. ... It was not until I received this letter 
that I began to be hopeless of any successful issue to our 
operations, but I felt it to be my duty, notwithstanding the 
broken condition of the forces under my command, to hold 
my position." 

No more reinforcements were expected by General Pope, 
who further says : " I accordingly prepared to renew the en- 
gagement." Early in the afternoon Porter's corps, which had 
arrived early in the morning, was ordered to prepare to ad- 
vance, supported by King's division, under General Hatch, 
and supported also on their left by Sigel's corps and Rey- 
nold's division, and attack the enemy along the Warrenton 
turnpike. At the same time our corps and Reno's division 
were ordered to advance, and, if possible, to turn the enemy's 
left and attack him on his flank. About two p. m. Porter 
commenced the attack on Longstreet, and soon became furi- 
ously engaged with a resolute and determined foe, who con- 
tested every inch of ground. The contest soon extended to 
the centre and right. It soon became evident that the enemy 
7 



98 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

was massing on our left, at the same time making a formid- 
able appearance along the whole line. Porter soon gave signs 
of weakness. Two brigades of Rickett's division were now 
sent by McDowell to reinforce Porter, — Schenck's brigade of 
Sigel's corps, and ]\Iilroy's Independent brigade. These com- 
mands, against which the enemy had hurled their masses with 
great fury, fought superbly. Porter commenced to retire 
when Reynolds came to his support, giving him time to re- 
form some of his regiments. In the meantime Hooker's di- 
vision advanced upon the woods in his front and drove the 
enemy a short distance back. Kearny's division was, in the 
meantime, waiting for orders. The contest on the left con- 
tinued until near six o'clock with unequaled fury, the enemy 
hurling their concentrated massive column against ourtroops, 
who were now slowly falling back, being closely pressed by 
the elated enemy. From our position we could plainly see 
that the day was lost. The prediction of General Kearny, 
who made his quarters with Captain Randolph the night be- 
fore, was fulfilled, when he said, while sitting on a limber 
chest, there would be another Bull Run before night. Our 
trains now began to retire in haste towards the fords of 
Bull Run. Reno's corps was now thrown into action on the 
left, meeting the brave assaults of the foe with unequaled 
courage. About live p. m. the left centre gave way and re- 
tired from before the enemy. When Kearny sent Robinson's 
and Birney's commands to fill the vacated positions, just be- 
fore sunset, our battery was sent to join these brigades, tak- 
ing a position at the foot of a hill, in front of the woods, near 
to one of the small streams which form the source of Young's 
Branch. Our right being weakened from sending reinforce- 
ments to the left, began also to give way, but held their line 
unbroken. The left, by sunset, had been driven back three- 
quarters of a mile, but held the lines intact. By dark the 
enemy were in possession of the Manassas and Sudley Spring 
road, thereby endangering our line of retreat. At eight 
o'clock General Pope sent orders to the different commands 
for a general retreat, also defining the route and order of 
movement. To Generals Kearny, Reno, and Gibbon, fell the 
honor of covering the retreat from the field. As the artillery 
was of little service after dark it was soon after ordered to 
cross Bull Run. Our battery left its position just before 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 99 

dark, slowly retiring, and sev^eral times going into battery- 
while cii route to the river. As we retired we were severely 
shelled by a long range battery, which, it is said, threw pieces 
of railroad iron. Whatever they were, they certainly were 
not welcome guests. No missile had ever before so unnerved 
us as these unknown shots. On arriving at the river we 
found ourselves, with many other commands of every de- 
scription, anxious to cross the bridge. Our battery was soon 
across safely, except the fifth caisson, which, by some un- 
known way, had a wheel run off. This caused us some vexa- 
tion, but by heavy lifting the unruly wheel was replaced, and 
after a struggle we obtained an opportunity to cross the river 
and soon rejoined the battery. After crossing the bridge one 
piece of Lieutenant Sheldon's had trouble, also, by getting 
stuck. It soon, however, obtained its freedom, and, having 
taken its place in line, the battery moved on towards Centre- 
ville, reaching there about midnight. Birney's and Robin- 
son's brigades did not leave the field until ten p. m., when 
they quietly withdrew, reaching Centreville about two p. ^l 
It is to be regretted that no report by Captain Randolph, of 
this battle is on record. General Hooker made no report 
whatever. Kearny's is very brief. Of the artillery he says : 
"Randolph's battery of light twelves was worked with bold- 
ness and address. Though narrowly watched by three long- 
reaching enfilading batteries of the enemy, it constantly si- 
lenced one of theirs in its front and shelled and ricochetted 
its shot into the reinforcements moving from the enemy's 
heights down into the woods." Considering the severe shell- 
ing we received, our loss was remarkably small, only one 
man, by the name of Edward Galvin, being killed. I know 
nothing of his history, except that he enlisted at Providence, 
Dec. 26, 1 861, and arrived at the battery Jan. 16, 1862. 
He was in every way an excellent soldier, and, so far as I 
know, a very worthy man. His leg was shot off on the 29th, 
and he died on the 30th. At the time he was wounded he 
was acting as No. 5 on the third piece. 



lOO HISTORY OF BATTERY F, [Sept., 



CHAPTER XI. 

September, 1862. 

Battle of Chantillv and Death of Kearny. 

AUGUST 31st our battery lay at Centreville, in a cheer- 
less rain, thinking over the fortunes of another re- 
treat and wondering what next in the line of misfor- 
tune was in store for us. As we had not for the last two 
weeks had time to write to our friends at home, our leisure 
hours were spent in that agreeable service, although it was 
but little that we could communicate of a hopeful nature, so 
far as it related to our military efforts, but it served to re- 
lieve the fears of our friends as to our safety in the late bat- 
tle. During the afternoon we were in battery for a few hours ; 
after that we went into the park just below the forts. Dur- 
ing the day a gentleman from Rhode Island, by the name of 
Nichols arrived at our camp, and very kindly offered to take 
our mail to Providence for us, which favor we thankfully ac- 
cepted. 

We were all anxious that the rebels would not attempt to 
follow up our retreat, but by night rumors to the contrary 
began to be passed about the different camps. In anticipa- 
tion of such a possibility our troops were posted in a line to 
the right and left of Centreville, Sumner on the right. On 
his left were the other corps, in the order named — Porter, 
Heintzelman, Franklin, Sigel, with Reno on the extreme 
left. Sumner and Franklin, with their corps, joined the 
army on this date. Our forces now, with these two corps 
added, was about 60,000. Had they been with us during the 
battle the result would doubtless have been very different. 
Early on the morning of the 31st Jackson was ordered for- 
ward with the intention of striking us on our right flank, and 
by evening had reached the Little River turnpike, which runs 



)862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. lOI 

from Aldie to Fairfax Court House, making it necessary to 
change our position. September ist Hooker was ordered to 
take charge of all the troops near Germantovvn (turning over 
his division to General Grover) a small village near the junc- 
tion of the Little River pike and the Fairfax road. Hooker 
formed the right of the line, which was located upon a range 
of high land called Ox Hill. On the left of Hooker came 
iMcDowell, then Franklin; next Reno, with Kearny in his 
rear as reserve ; next came Porter, then Sumner on the ex- 
treme left, making a line of three miles. On the same day 
General Jackson moved down the turnpike. On reaching 
the point where the Ox Hill road crosses the turnpike, he 
was met by Ricketts's division, who opened upon the enemy 
and held them in check. At the same time General Stevens's 
division, of Reno's command, attacked the enemy's right 
flank in his accustomed manner, driving back the enemy 
quite a distance ; the enemy being reinforced, in turn drove 
back a part of Stevens's division. The general himself, in 
this attack, " bore aloft the colors of one of his regmients, 
cheering on his men, and fell, fatally wounded, by a Minie 
ball through the head." At this time General Birney ap- 
peared upon the scene, whose action I will give by quoting 
a part of his report : " On reaching that point I found the 
division of General Stevens retiring in some disorder before 
the enemy, the officers in command of regiments stating that 
their ammunition had been exhausted. I immediately or- 
dered forward the Fourth Maine Regiment, and it gallantly 
advanced and was soon in active conflict. I successively 
took forward the One Hundred and First New York, Third 
Maine, Fortieth and First New York. These regiments held 
the enemy and sustained unflinchingly the most murderous 
fire from a superior force. At this juncture General Kearny 
reached the field with Randolph's battery, and, placing it in 
position, aided my brigade by a well-directed fire. I pointed 
out to the general a gap on my right, caused by the retiring 
of Stevens's division, and asked for Berry's brigade to fill it. 
He rode from me to examine the ground, and, dashing past 
our lines into those of the enemy, fell a victim to his gallant 
daring. I sent forward the Thirty-eighth New York and 
Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania to complete our victory. They 
advanced gallantly, and night closed in, leaving my brigade 



102 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

in full possession of that portion of the battlefield in which 
we were engaged. 

General Kearny not returning and supposing that he had 
been taken prisoner, I assumed command of the division 
and ordered forward Robinson's and Berry's brigades, re- 
lieved my tired regiments, and held until three o'clock a. m., 
September 2d, the battle ground, at which time I followed 
with the division the corps of General Reno to Fairfax Court 
House. 

The preliminary movements of our battery commenced at 
four p. M., when we left Centreville in company with our 
division. We had advanced about three miles when General 
Kearny with one or two of his staff rode up in haste from the 
direction of Fairfax and asked whose battery it was. Being 
told that it was Randolph's he said : " Just the battery I 
want, follow nie." Taking the battery forward a short dis- 
tance he turned our course at right angles upon a road leading- 
north towards Ox Hill ; advancing a short distance he halted 
the battery, commanding us to remain until further orders. 
During the suspension a terrible storm broke over us, the 
thunder being so loud it was said it was utterly impossible 
to hear artillery at Centreville. The shade of night spread 
over us even before sunset. The rain fell in such torrents 
that it was almost impossible to keep ammunition serviceable. 
During this battle of the elements our troops continued the 
fight although the rain somewhat slackened its severity. 
About sunset our battery was ordered forward some half mile 
or so and went into battery upon a hill sloping to the north- 
west, at the foot of which was an extended tract of woodland. 
We immediately went into action, directing our shots into 
the woods on our front. After firing a short time word was 
received that we were firing into our own ranks. .We then 
ceased firing. It was at this time that General Kearny, 
whose headquarters were with the battery, told Sergeant 
Millen that if any of his aides or orderlies came to find him 
tell them to wait until he returned. This order to Sergeant 
Millen was before General Birney pointed out to Kearny the 
break in our lines on his right, as a later statement will show, 
but it was the last time that our beloved division commander 
was seen alive by us. After we had ceased firing, Colonel 
Foe, of the Second Michigan Regiment, who was in command 




Lieut. Israel R. Sheldon. 



IS6:;.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. IO3 

of the brigade of General Berry (who was on sick leave), 
arrived in our rear. Kearny being absent and no other proper 
ofBcers being present, he reported to General Reno, who 
ordered him to remain where he was, at the same time 
ordering that one regiment be sent to his left in support 
of a battery. The Fifth Michigan was sent. Soon after, 
General Birney, having assumed command of the division, 
ordered the brigade to relieve the second brigade (Birney's) 
at the front, where it remained until 2.30 a. m., when it was 
ordered to leave the Second Michigan Regiment on picket 
and retire towards Fairfax, the pickets soon following. Our 
battery left the field several hours before, going back as far 
as the Centreville and Fairfax road where we halted until the 
small hours of the next morning, when we moved on to Fair- 
fax Court House, reaching there at sunrise. During the 
night it cleared off cold, and, being wet through by the heavy 
shower of the afternoon before, we suffered quite severely 
with the cold, the drivers especially. Our loss in this short 
but sharp contest was only the horse of John McKenna, our 
bugler, and Private Philip A. Dexter, who was hit by a spent 
Minie ball, but suffered no injury. The valor of Captain 
Randolph in this, as in all previous engagements, was so ob- 
vious that every man felt justly proud of being one of his 
command. Lieutenants Arnold, Jastram, Bucklyn, and Shel- 
don, his worthy assistants, were likewise an honor to the bat- 
tery ; all but the latter possessed more than an average degree 
of executive ability, and what he lacked in that line was more 
than redeemed by his manly and amiable demeanor.* 

After arriving at Fan-fax Court House the sun rose bright 
and cheerful, its warm rays being of great service in driving 
away the cold chills afflicting us during our morning march. 
This, with the apparent victory which we had just achieved, 
failed to give us any degree of satisfaction, as we had learned 
on our way that General Kearny was probably killed, or at least 
was a prisoner. It was anxiously hoped that the latter fate 
would prove the correct one. It was not long, however, be- 
fore the real truth became known, as his lifeless body had 

*While our battery was tiring, General Kearny, whose staff were all absent, sent 
Lieutenant Jastram to General Grover (on Kearny's left), to request liini to be sure and 
have his right and Kearny's left join each other, jastram rode at once to deliver the mes- 
sage meeting on his way one of Kearny's aides telling him where his chief could be found; 
then after considerable trouble, owing to the darkness, delivered Kearny's order. 



I04 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

been borne into our lines under a flag of truce, accompanied 
by a note to General Hooker from General Lee, saying that 
he thought it would be a great consolation to his family to 
have his body. His horse and equipments were sent in a 
few weeks after. His biographer gives many interesting 
facts relating to his death. From these I think a few ex- 
tracts will not be out of place. The quotations that I make 
relate more particularly to the manner of his death. There 
are so many conflicting statements, that I will give those 
that his biographer considers the most reliable. Brevet Col. 
W. H. Paine, in a letter to Kearny's biographer, after giving 
a description of the location of the troops and the break 
in our lines, says : " On riding from the front I found 
General Kearny with his command about to march from 
the rear towards the vacated position and informed him 
that it was vacated, and that his own left and front was un- 
covered by the movements of General Reno's troops. He 
expressed surprise, and said that from instructions he had re- 
ceived he thought there was a force there which he was 
to support if necessary. After replying to his particular in- 
quiries as to who I was and my means of information, he 
added that it conflicted both with his instructions and other 
information received, but if true, was very important for him 
to know. I then left him. I learned subsequently that he 
went forward and was shot." His biographer then says 
Kearny could scarcely have parted from Paine when he en- 
countered Birney. In a letter received years after from 
Birney, he says : •' During the battle of Chantilly, my brigade 
was actively engaged. I noticed that Stevens's division had 
retreated leaving a gap of half a mile on my right. I asked 
General Kearny for Berry's brigade to fill it ; he stated that 
he had ordered the colonel commanding to report to me and 
was indignant at his delay. But he said it was impossible 
that General Reno could have jiermitted such a gap ; that I 
must be mistaken ; that there certainly were troops there of 
ours. I assured him that there was not. At this time it was 
raining and the smoke from the batteries hung low. I gal- 
loped down to send in a regiment to my left. He accom- 
panied me and as we leaped a ditch his horse shied, and he 
remarked how disagreeable that a horse should behave so in 
a battle. He then galloped to the right and I saw him no 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. IO5 

more." From colonel, now General Mindell, who was then 
his aide, I fill out the history. General Kearny was on a black 
horse, covered with an India rubber cloak. It was late in 
the evening, dark with clouds, the drizzling rain, and the 
shade of the woods. He determined to see for himself if 
such a danger existed as such a gap in the Union line. Bid- 
ding Colonel Mindell to stay behind, he dashed forward to 
inspect." Pollard says : " General Kearny met his death in 
a singular manner. He was out reconnoitering when he sud- 
denly came upon a Georgia regiment. Perceiving danger, he 
shouted, 'Don't fire, I'm a friend,' but instantly wheeled his 
horse around, and, lying flat upon the animal, had escaped 
many bullets, when one struck him at the bottom of the 
spine, and, ranging upwards, killed him almost instantly." 
He was seen after leaving Birney by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Benjamin, of the Second United States Artillery, riding 
•swiftly forward in the direction where he was killed. He 
shouted to him of his danger, but failed to make him hear. 
A few shots were heard shortly after, and, no other shots fol- 
lowing, he supposed it must have been those that he heard 
that killed him. Another account gives substantially the 
same story, only substituting a Louisiana regiment for a 
Georgia. Another account by a rebel officer who was pres- 
ent gives what he saw with his own eyes. He said : "The 
gallant Kearny received his death wound from a private sol- 
dier under my command, and when he fell from his horse I 
hastened, with many others, to the point where he lay, not 
supposing that his wound was a mortal one. Just as we 
reached his body, however, his limbs gave one convulsive 
quiver and then all was over. Seeing that he was a maj-or- 
general, word was sent to headquarters to that effect, and 
General Jackson coming to the spot, immediately gave one 
glance at the dead officer's features and exclaimed, " My 
God, boys, do you know who you have killed ? You have shot 
the most gallant officer in the United States Army. This is 
Phil Kearny, who lost his arm in the Mexican War." He 
then involuntarily lifted his hat, every officer of the group 
fgllowing his example, and for a moment a reverential silence 
was observed by all. Subsequently the body of the dead sol- 
dier was placed upon two boards, and, being removed to head- 
quarters, was followed by General Jackson and other officers, 



I06 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

while a regimental band preceded it, playing a dead march." 
Gen. A. P. Hill said when he saw Kearny dead : " Poor 
Kearny ! He deserved a better fate than this." It was, in- 
deed, a sad fate, — -and for his country which he served so long 
and well it was a great misfortune. He was at the time of 
his death only forty-seven, having been born in New York 
city in June, 1815. He frequently made his headquarters at 
our battery with Captain Randolph, whom he held in the 
highest esteem. Kearny was by no means austere in his de- 
portment, although at times he seemed to be so. He had no 
patience with a soldier who during a battle did not forget his 
temporary infirmities, but when no active service was re- 
quired no general was more persistent in his care of the sick. 

We remained at Fairfax Court House until noon, feasting 
ourselves upon apples and green corn, which were found in 
abundance upon the Fairfax farm. Then we moved on 
towards Alexandria, and, after going about eight miles, pass- 
ing through Fairfax Station on our way, we encamped for the 
night. The next morning we started at sunrise and marched 
by way of Pohick Church, reaching our old drill ground near 
Fort Lyon about noon, Sept. 3, 1862. Just five and one half 
months before, we left Alexandria to capture Richmond and 
to crush the Rebellion. History has seldom recorded so 
many failures as the brave Army of the Potomac had to 
encounter during this short time. For these failures Battery 
E was in no way responsible, having done its duty and 
brought no dishonor upon its history. 

The losses in these battles are not given separately, but 
include all the losses from August i6th to Sept. 2, 1862. 
The losses in Kearny's division were 1,029 5 Hooker's division, 
1,209. Only two of these were in Battery E. Total in 
Third corps, 2,238. The losses in Fifth corps were 2,151 ; 
Sixth corps, 339.- Total losses in the Army of the Potomac, 
4,728. The losses in Sigel's First corps were 2,087, Banks's 
Second corps, 341 ; McDowell's Third corps, 5,469. Total 
losses in the Army of Virginia, 8,105. The losses in Reno's 
(independent) Ninth corps were 1,523 ; reserve corps, 222. 
The total losses in the two Union armies were 14,462. The 
total losses in the Confederate army were 9,474. Four thou- 
sand two hundred and sixty-three of the Union losses were 
captured or missing. 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. IO7 



C H AFTER XII. 

September— October— November, 1862. 

Arlington Heights, Poolesville, Pursuit of Lee's 
Army to Fredericksburg. 

SEPTEMBER 4th, the battery receiYcd fifteen recruits, 
as follows : William H Phinney, John Slocum, Samuel 
Havens, Charles S. Huling, Charles H. James, George 
I. Cole, Marvin M. Leavens, Edwin A. Matteson. Edson S. 
White, William C. Winslow, Edward Whiting, James F. Pratt, 
Edward Bucklin, Jr., Jeremiah Bucklin, Thomas Kinder. 
While we lay here, a Mr. Johnston, who lived near our camp- 
ing ground, was doing a good business in providing troops 
with good dinners at thirty-seven cents per meal, Battery E 
men being among his best customers. Mr. Johnston was a 
Northern man, but his wife was a true type of a Southern 
woman and a genuine rebel in spirit, and did not hesitate to 
defend on all proper occasions the secession movement. 
Nevertheless she w^as kind to the sick soldiers, as many could 
testify. 

On the 6th, the welcome paymaster arrived and paid us for 
two months. In the afternoon we moved with Berry's brig- 
ade one and a half miles to the west and occupied a redan, 
from which we could overlook Washington and Alexandria, 
and their surroundings. We arranged our camp in good 
order, expecting to remain awhile. A supply of clothing was 
issued, of which we were in need. 

On the afternoon of the loth, the battery moved to near 
Fort Worth upon a hill, giving us another beautiful view of our 
surroundings. Near by was the residence of General Cooper, 
who was the adjutant-general of the rebel army. Here we 
remained until the 12th, when the battery was ordered to 
occupy a breastwork about four miles further north, just west 



I08 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

of Fort Albany, our camp being on the south side and joining 
the Columbia Pike, about one a half miles from Long Bridge. 
The range of hills upon which we lay was known as Arling- 
ton Heights, from which we had a fine view of Washington 
and its environs. It was a healthy locality and just such a 
place as we needed 'to recuperate from the malaria and 
fatigue of the Peninsular campaign, the effect of which was 
plainly visible upon a large number of the battery. 

During the eleven months of our service our losses from 
deaths and disability had been about forty, besides those 
absent sick in the hospitals. Among the latter was Lieu- 
tenant Bucklyn, who was taken sick during the battle of Bull 
Run, where he temporarily served on General Kearny's staff. 
He, however, persisted in remaining with the battery until 
after the battle of Chantilly, during which General Kearny 
in person complimented him on his bravery. Leaving the 
field at Chantilly, he took the company's wagon and rode to 
Alexandria. He was then sent to the hospital at George- 
town. 

During the battle of Bull Run General McClellan was in 
command of the defences of Washington, and when the de- 
feated army arrived within the fortifications it came under 
the command of McClellan by virtue of his superior rank. 
General Pope being relieved on the 5th of September, was 
ordered to report to the Secretary of War for orders. On 
the 8th General Banks assumed command of the defences of 
Washington on the north of the Potomac. On the 9th Gen- 
eral Heintzelman assumed command of the defences of Wash- 
ington south of the Potomac, retaining his own corps for that 
purpose. This took us from the field of active service for a 
few weeks, and gave us an opportunity for a much needed 
rest. 

During the first week in September, the Army of Virginia 
was consolidated with the Army of the Potomac, General 
Hooker being assigned to the command of McDowell's corps, 
who, at his own request, had been relieved. On the 12th the 
P'irst corps (Sigel's), Army of Virginia, was changed to the 
Eleventh corps. The Second corps (Banks's) was changed to 
the Twelfth corps. The Third corps (McDowell's) was 
changed to the First corps, of which our gallant Hooker was 
in command. The vacancy made by Hooker's promotion was 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, IO9 

filled by Gen. Daniel E. Sickles. General Birney, soon after 
his arrival within the defences of Washington, was detailed 
to act as a member of a court of inquiry. From this duty 
he made an effort to be relieved, but without success. Dur- 
ing this service Gen. George Stoneman was appointed to fill 
the vacancy caused by Kearny's death. This so irritated 
Birney that he promptly resigned, but was finally prevailed 
upon by Secretary Chace to withdraw his resignation. Stone- 
man assumed command on the 15th of September, and, on 
the i6th, with Birney's brigade, under the command of Col. 
Hobart Ward, with two regiments of new troops, moved to 
Poolesville, Md., the other brigades of the corps remaining 
at or near the defences of Washington doing picket duty. 
Sickles's division alone covered a distance of eight miles. 
This, while so many troops were in this vicinity, would seem 
unnecessary, for on the loth of September there were in and 
around Washington over 70,000 troops, with 120 field-pieces 
and about 500 heavy guns in position. These forces included 
the Third, Fifth, and Eleventh army corps, commanded re- 
spectively by Heintzelman, Fitz John Porter, and Sigel. 
Besides these forces, 87,000 men had been put in motion a 
few days before to meet the rebel forces under General Lee, 
who had immediately after the defeat of General Pope moved 
towards the upper Potomac, and by the 6th had crossed into 
Maryland by the fords near Leesburg, and on the 14th fought 
the battle of South Mountain. On the 15th Jackson's corps 
captured Harper's Ferry with the entire garrison. Two days 
later (17th) was fought the battle of Antietam. Lee, being 
defeated, retired across the Potomac with a loss of 11,000 
men. The strength of the Union army was about 87,000, 
the number engaged being about 60,000. The Confederates 
had about 40,000. The Union loss was 12,410. It was not 
permitted us to participate in these two battles, nevertheless 
the duties performed were as effective in the desired results 
as though we had been allowed to move with the army in the 
field. During the time when the battles were being fought 
we were still in camp on the Columbia Pike. Our duties 
were light we having nothing but camp duties to perform. 
For the previous six weeks we had been almost constantly on 
the march or in battle, which prevented us from attending to 
personal cares and duties. Our mails were not regular, and 



IIO HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

many letters due us had not been received ; but after being 
settled our back mails arrived, bringing us cheering words 
from our friends at home. A large number of boxes were 
also received containing provisions and many useful articles. 
Many of these boxes had been so long on the way their con- 
tents were spoiled. One received by the writer had been 
delayed since the 31st of July. 

On the 1 6th the Seventh Rhode Island Regiment arrived 
from Providence, having left there on the loth. It was assigned 
to Casey's division. Its camp being near us it soon became an 
object of daily visits, as many of us had personal friends from 
whom we received a hearty greeting. Its stay near us ended 
on the 29th, when it left for Sandy Hook. 

But very few passes were granted at this time to Washing- 
ton or to any place beyond a short distance from camp, which 
was quite a disappointment ; but some of our Rhode Island 
friends found it convenient to visit us ; among them was 
George B. Jastram, father of our Lieutenant Jastram. He 
was a genial and social gentleman, who made himself very 
agreeable during his stay. He left us on the 21st taking with 
him such articles as the men desired to send home. 

Our Sunday morning reviews by our captain were resumed 
on the 2ist, the first since leaving the Peninsula. 

John H. Carney and Robert Poynton arrived in camp on the 
2Sth, by an exchange of prisoners, they having been captured 
at Charles City Cross Roads June 30th. Jeremiah Potter also 
returned. He left the battery the day we reached Alexan- 
dria from the Peninsula. Although he did not intend to de- 
sert, as he had before committed the same offence he was 
court martialed October 4th, and sentenced to forfeit $10 
per month for six months and to be under guard for twenty- 
five days. 

October ist, a review of nine regiments, five batteries, of 
which our battery was one, took place at Bailey's Cross Roads. 
The reviewing otficers being Generals Heintzelman, Birney, 
and Robinson. 

October 5th, another Sunday review by our captain, who 
had been for a few days acting temporarily as chief of ar- 
tillery. 

First Sergt. Jacob H. Lamb received his commission as sec- 
ond lieutenant, dated October i, 1S62, and was assigned to Bat- 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I I I 

tery A. Sergeant Lamb was one of the most faithful ofificers 
in the battery and had well earned his promotion. October 6th, 
Sergt. James F. Allen of the second piece was promoted to 
first sergeant, vice Lamb promoted. First Corp. Charles 
S. Winslow, of the second piece was advanced to sergeant of 
the same piece, vice Allen promoted. October 7th, Sergt. 
Allen Gardner of the first piece was by his own request re- 
duced to gunner of the second piece, vice Winslow promoted. 
First Corporal Seth B. Darling of the first piece was pro- 
moted sergeant of the same piece, vice Gardner reduced. 
Second Corp. James Donnelly of the first piece was advanced 
to gunner of the same piece, vice Darling promoted to ser- 
geant. The reduction of Sergeant Gardner at his own re- 
quest was because of his inability to ride horseback, and not 
for any deficiency or inability to perform the duties of a ser- 
geant. 

On October 8th, William H. Steere, who had about two 
weeks before been appointed company clerk, received a sick 
furlough dated October 6th, for thirty days. After two ex- 
tensions of furlough he was on the loth of January, 1863, 
sent to Portsmouth Grove Hospital. Sept. i, 1861, he was 
transferred to the Veteran Reserve corps, and afterwards de- 
tailed to the commissary department at the hospital. In the 
spring of 1864 he was transferred to Providence and acted 
as clerk in the provost department until Sept. 30, 1864, 
when by reason of the expiration of his term of service he 
was mustered out. After he received his furlough he was 
promoted lance corporal. Had he remained in health he 
doubtless would have been rapidly promoted. 

In the evening of the 8th, the boys had a lively time in 
front of the ofBcers' tents by way of dancing and singing, 
which was highly enjoyed by both officers and men. Our 
camp concerts were of frequent occurrence among the men, 
but this was the first entertainment they had given in honor 
of their officers. 

October loth. Captain Randolph received orders to have his 
battery ready to move at four a. m. the next morning. This 
order, although anticipated, made us realize more fully the 
pleasant times that this camp afforded us. No place in which 
we had tarried was more adapted to enjoyment than this. It 
was nicely arranged and well provided with every convenience 



112 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

that the rules of the service would allow. Its proximity to 
places where we could obtain luxuries, and the magnificent 
scenery, added much to its enjoyment. Its mail facilities 
were another source of pleasure, which we knew must be sac- 
rificed when we moved. As this was our last night here it 
was arranged to have a farewell jubilee, which took place in a 
barn situated upon our camping ground. It consisted as be- 
fore, of music and dancing, and lasted until taps. At day- 
light, October nth, reveille awoke us for the last time at this 
place, and at sunrise we bade farewell to a month's camp of 
unusual pleasure. 

Our route lay through Georgetown and Tenallytown to 
Rockville, about twelve miles from Washington, where we en- 
camped for the night ; resumed our march at four a. m. next 
morning, passed through Darnestown and reached Poolesville 
at two p. M. From Rockville we had a forced march caused by 
the rebel cavalry raiding near Poolesville. We were accom- 
panied by Robinson's brigade. Two hours after reaching 
Poolesville the right and centre sections under Lieutenants 
Arnold and Sheldon, accompanied by the One Hundred and 
Fourteenth Pennsylv^ania (Collis Zouaves), and the Twentieth 
Indiana regiments, were sent out after the rebel raiders, but 
before overtaking them they had recrossed the Potomac. The 
sections went as far as the canal, and then returned to camp, 
reaching it at midnight. October 14th, the battery in company 
with Robinson's brigade, was ordered to Conrad Ferry. Berry's 
brigade under Colonel Poehad previously been sent to Edward's 
Ferry. This move was on account of a report that 10,000 
cavalry were near Leesburg preparing for a raid. No enemy 
appearing the battery returned to camp in the evening. 

October i6th, we hitched up on account of a false alarm, 
but soon unhitched. The next day we moved camp a short 
distance. On the 19th, Lieutenant Lamb, who had been pro- 
moted to second lieutenant on the 5th, left us to join his 
command with the best wishes of his comrades. We were 
also reviewed by our captain. October 21st, we again went to 
Conrad's Ferry, in company with the Twentieth Indiana and a 
part of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania regi- 
ments. We carried no rations with us as we left in a hurry, 
but they were sent to us after our arrival. We remained 
until the next morning when we returned to camp. 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. II3 

A very pleasant affair occurred on the 2^d. The Sixty- 
eighth, One Hundred and Fourteenth, and One Hundred and 
Forty-first Pennsylvania regiments had each a flag presented 
them by a citizen of Pennsylvania. General Stoneman and 
staff with General Robinson were present. 

October 24th, our battery and Robinson's brigade were re- 
viewed by our division commander. October 26th, the bat- 
tery was reviewed with Robinson's brigade by one of Burn- 
side's staff officers, but owing to the severe cold rain we were 
ordered to camp to be inspected in park. Later in the day 
orders came to be ready to move in the morning, but the 
order was soon countermanded. On the 27th, Captain Ran- 
dolph received a leave of absence for fourteen days and Lieu- 
tenant Arnold was left in command. The cold storm of two 
days subsided at noon, when it cleared away cool, but pleas- 
ant. October 28th, reveille at five A. M. Left camp for White's 
Ford, reaching there at 7.30 a. m. Here we found Birney's 
brigade encamped under command of Gen. John H. Hobart 
Ward, whose brigade left Washington September i6th. After 
reaching the ford we were ordered into battery where we re- 
mained two days. In the meantime our division forded the 
river. The water being from two to three feet deep their 
progress was slow. The infantry were followed by a long 
train of wagons. Two men in Livingstone's battery were, by 
some accident drowned, while fording the stream. 

On the 29th our ciuartermaster arrived bringing a heavy mail 
and several boxes of provisions from Rhode Island. At three 
p. M. on the 30th we limbered up and crossed the stream, the 
water just clearing the ammunition chests. After going a 
short distance we encamped for the night. The date of Gen. 
George Stoneman's assignment as commander of the gallant 
Third corps is the same as that of our crossing at W^hite's 
Ford. General Heintzelman had, three days before, superseded 
General Banks in command of the defences of Washington, 
which gave him the control of both sides of the Potomac. 
On the 31st, after being mustered for two months' pay, we 
started for Leesburg, where we arrived at night and encamped 
just north of the town. 

It would require the graphic pen of Bayard Taylorto do jus- 
tice to the sublime and romantic scenery which greeted our 



114 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

eyes at this place. Nothing like it had ever before been seen 
by us. 

It was about this time that General Birney was relieved 
from special service at Washington, and, as ordered, reported 
to take command of his brigade, but finding that General 
Stoneman had been assigned to the command of the corps, 
he by virtue of his senior rank, became commander of the 
division, Gen. J. H. H. Ward soon after becoming permanent 
commander of Birney's old brigade. 

General Stoneman on crossing the river issued orders to 
forage on the enemy for such supplies as the battery was in 
need. The order referred, I presume, to horses and forage, 
as we were short of both ; however that may have been, it 
was evident that with the men of Battery E it had a more 
liberal meaning". The great supply of ducks, chickens, and 
mutton, was certainly an evidence that they thought it covered 
all the needs of a hungry army. 

November ist. After six weeks of impatient waiting the 
loyal people of the North were glad to hear that the Army 
of the Potomac was once more making a forward movement. 
General Lee was slowly retreating up the Shenandoah Val- 
ley, watching sharply the passes through the Blue Ridge. 
General McClellan was equally vigilant, advancing along the 
east side. While the mountains were a barrier against a gen- 
eral battle, skirmishing by the cavalry and artillery of the 
two armies was almost of daily occurrence. While our ad- 
vance was fighting at Philomont we hitched up, but did not 
move. 

November 2d, the Second corps advanced to Snicker's Gap, 
meeting a slight resistance. The Ninth corps, on the ad- 
vance, had reached Bloomington. Our battery hitched up at 
daylight and moved at one p. m., with Birney's division, along 
the Winchester turnpike, to the summit of Catoctin Moun- 
tain, then moving south until the Mountain House, at Mount 
Gilead, was reached. Went into camp about ten r. m., upon 
a high bluff, at the foot of which was a stone mill. Battery 
E did not fail, during the evening, to throw out its skirmish- 
ers The enemy being usually posted in hen-coops always 
surrendered, although not without making a noisy protest. 
The result was, that after waiting some three hours, we dined 
upon chicken soup, George H. Pierce being master of cere- 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. II 5 

monies. Our prisoners, when taken, were placed in bags and 
carried upon the caissons, but they kept up such a continual 
squalling that Lieutenant Arnold vetoed the practice. 

November 3d, the Sixth corps was in the advance, followed 
by the Ninth, to which Stoneman's command was tempo- 
rarily attached, the other corps following in the rear, except 
the Twelfth corps, which was left to guard Harper's Ferry, 
under General Slocum. Pleasonton had a sharp fight at Up- 
perville, driving the enemy before him. Battery E halted 
and encamped at Melville in a cornfield. 

November 4th, the Fourth corps took possession of Ash- 
ley's Gap and our advance reached Piedmont on the Manassas 
Gap railroad. Battery E remained at Melville all day and 
through the night. 

November 5th, our cavalry had several sharp skirmishes, — 
Averill at Manassas Gap, and Pleasonton at Barbee's Cross 
Roads, while General Bayard had a lively skirmish at Salem. 
Our battery left Melville about nine p. m. and encamped. 
Some of the men had plenty of fowls and potatoes, which 
they foraged on the march. 

November 6th, the First corps advanced to Warrenton ; 
the Second to Rectortown ; the Fifth on the way to White 
Plains ; the Ninth to Waterloo and vicinity, on the north 
fork of the Rappahannock. The Eleventh corps had now 
joined us from the vicinity of Washington and was at New 
Baltimore and Thoroughfare Gap. General Sickles, with the 
Second division of the Third corps, was guarding the rail- 
road from Manassas Junction towards Warrenton. Our bat- 
tery left Salem and passed over a very hilly road, halting at a 
farm-house owned by a man named Morgan, from whose hay- 
stacks our horses were fed. While the horses were feeding 
there occurred an affair not very creditable to those concerned 
in it. While our officers were in the house, and were enjoy- 
ing a good dinner and a social chat with its inmates, some 
of the men had found or forced an entrance into the cellar, 
and proceeded to help themselves to a good supply of butter, 
flour, and other articles of a more liquid nature. Being dis- 
covered and reported to their officers, they changed their 
raid to the milk-room, doubtless thinking that a share of the 
spoils would prevent any punishment by their superiors. 
However that may be, the officers certainly had no lack of 



Il6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

butter for the next few days ; furthermore, our limber chests, 
in which we were not generally allowed to carry articles other 
than ammunition, were well stocked with butter without any 
protest from the ofificers. After this affair we marched to 
within a few miles of Waterloo and encamped. 

November 7th, remained in camp all day and night. It 
was a day long to be remembered, as it early commenced 
snowing, accompanied by a cold wind. By night nearly two 
inches of snow covered the ground. Not having any protec- 
tion save our shelter tents, we suffered quite severely. In 
all it was one of the most gloomy days thus far in our mili- 
tary history. This was also an eventful day for the Army of 
Potomac, as the following extract from McClellan's report, 
found in Vol. 19, Official Records of the War, Part ist, will 
show : 

" Late on the night of the 7th I received an order reliev- 
ing me from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and 
directing me to turn it over to General Burnside, which I at 
once did. I had already given the orders for the movements 
of the 8th and 9th. These orders were carried into effect 
without change. The position in which I left the army, as 
the result of the orders I had given, was as follows : The 
First, Second and Fifth corps. Reserve Artillery, and general 
headquarters, at Warrenton ; the Ninth corps, on the line of 
the Rappahannock, in the vicinity of Waterloo ; the Sixth 
corps, at New Baltimore ; the Eleventh corps at New Balti- 
more, Gainesville, and Thoroughfare Gap ; Sickles's division 
of _ the Third corps, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, 
from Manassas Junction to Warrenton Junction ; Pleasonton, 
across the Rappahannock at Amissville, Jefferson, etc., with 
his pickets at Hazel River, facing Longstreet, six miles from 
Culpepper Court House ; Bayard, near Rappahannock Sta- 
tion. When I gave the command to General Burnside, the 
best information in our possession indicated that Longstreet 
was immediately in our front, near Culpepper; Jackson, with 
one, perhaps both of the Hills, near Chester and Thomaston 
Gaps, with the mass of their force west of the Blue Ridge." 

The order of President Lincoln, ordering the removal of 
General McClellan, dates November 5th, and reads as follows, 
viz.: 



iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 11/ 



Executive Mansion, 

Washington, Nov. 5, 



.J 



By direction of the President it is ordered that Major-General McClellan 
be relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that Major 
General Bnrnside take the command of the Army. That Major-General 
Fitzjohn Porter be relieved from the command of the corps (the Fifth) 
he now commands in said army, and that Major-General Hooker take 
command of said corps. 

The General-in Chief is authorized, in his discretion, to issue an order 
substantially as the above forthwith, or as soon as he may deem proper. 

A. Lincoln. 
On the 9th General Burnside issued the following : 

HEADqUARTERS ArMY OF THE PoTOMAC, )^ 

Warrenton, Va., Nov. 9, 1862. J 
General Orders No. i. 

In accordance with General Orders No. 182, issued by the President of 
the United States, I hereby assume command of the Army of the Poto- 
mac. Patriotism and the exercise of my every energy, aided by the full 
and hearty co-operation of its officeis and men, will, I hope, under the 
blessing of God, insure its success. Having been a sharer of the priva- 
tions, and a witness of the bravery of the old Army of the Potomac in 
the Maryland campaign, and fully identified with them in their feelings 
oX respect and esteem for General McClellan, entertained through a long 
and most friendly association with him, I feel that it is not as a stranger 
that I assume their command. 

To the Ninth corps, so long and intimately associated with me. I need 
say nothing; our histories are identical. 

With diffidence for myself, but with a proud confidence in the unswerv- 
ing loyalty and determination of the gallant army now intrusted to my 
care, I accept its control with the steadfast assurance that the just cause 
must prevail. 

A. E. Burnside, 

Ma jo r-General Coin m a 11 ding. 

November 8th was still cold but more pleasant. We moved 
about two miles south, and went into camp about two miles 
east of Waterloo, which is situated at the junction of Carter's 
Run and the Hedgeman River. Our camp lay some five 
or six miles southwest of Warrenton, and was quite well 
protected- from the wind by the surrounding hills. Negro 
Run being near us furnished water for our horses. Some of 
the men during the day foraged several sheep. One man 
complained of losing one hundred and fifty. This practice of 



Il8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

foraging had been more in vogue since passing Leesburg than 
ever before, which may have been owing to Captain Ran- 
dolph's being on a leave of absence. Amasa A. Darling, ser- 
geant of the third detachment, and one of our best non-com- 
missioned officers, was reduced to the ranks by Lieutenant 
Arnold, It was an act which I think Arnold always regretted, 
for he was perhaps more to blame than Sergeant Darling. The 
trouble grew out of an order that the horses, after encamping, 
should be fed before the men had their own rations. The ser- 
geant, in order to hasten matters, had given his men permission 
to fill the nose-bags before reaching camp, and immediately 
after their arrival the grain was given to them. Lieutenant 
Arnold, not noticing this, and observing that the men were 
eating their own rations, demanded to know why the order 
had not been complied with, and when told by the sergeant 
that the horses were already fed, seemed to take no notice of 
what the sergeant had said, but with a great display of tem- 
per demanded that he should go and obey the order, and 
would not listen or believe that the order had already been en- 
forced. Continuing in an impulsive manner, he told the ser- 
geant that he would reduce him to the ranks, which threat he 
carried out. As the sergeant was a very sensitive man he, 
doubtless, during the altercation showed considerable temper, 
but the manner of the lieutenant would have provoked less 
sensitive men than Sergeant Darling. As the lieutenant him- 
self had lost his temper he should have been more charita- 
ble. A more proper course would have been to refer the case 
to Captain Randolph, who returned four days after. Although 
the matter was brought to the captain's notice, he said he re- 
gretted the occurrence, but as the act had been done he 
preferred not to interfere in the matter. Although Sergeant 
Darling lost his rank, he never lost the esteem of his com- 
rades. He continued in the faithful performance of his duties 
until the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, when he 
was severely wounded, and was discharged by the War De- 
partment, Dec. 23, 1863. 

On the 9th, we remained quiet in camp, but on the lothwe 
were reviewed by Captain Livingstone in the morning, and at 
four r. M. we left camp and crossed the Hedgeman River at 
Waterloo, going about two miles, and encamped near Glen 
Mills, passing the Fourth Rhode Island on our way. Here 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. II9 

we remained during the night and through the next day, 
hitching up once in the meantime on account of firing on 
our front, but soon unhitched. 

On November 12th, the Seventh Rhode Island Regiment 
passed through Glen Mills, greeting us with Rhode Island 
cheers. At three p. m. we hitched up and returned to camp at 
the Spring House, east of Waterloo. We were accompanied 
back to camp by Birney's division, which encamped near 
us. Our captain returned from his furlough, bringing with 
him three recruits, one of whom was George W. Gleason. 

On the 14th, Corp. Arthur Hargraves, of the fourth detach- 
ment, was promoted sergeant and assigned to the third de- 
tachment in place of Darling, reduced. Private Thomas T. 
Beard was promoted corporal, vice Hargraves promoted. 

The camp was unusually well supplied with fresh pork, the 
result of an evening raid upon a pig pen adjoining our camp, 
and immediately under the eye of the general, whose head- 
quarters were within a few feet of the pen. The writer must 
own to being one of the leaders in this affair. The plan, as 
agreed upon, was that at about ten p. m., after the lights were 
extinguished, we should silently lay aside the rails of the pen, 
and then step back to await the outcoming of two fine pigs 
of about one hundred and fifty pounds weight. After a short 
time the pigs quietly left the enclosure, when they were driven 
in the extreme darkness to a distant field, taking with us a 
dog well trained for the work. While a portion watched one 
of the pigs, the dog was set upon the other, and held it until 
seized by the men in pursuit. This, of course, caused a ter- 
rible squealing, but a knife carried for the purpose soon 
silenced the unwelcome noise. The same method was re- 
peated with the other pig. We then, with some effort, car- 
ried our prey to a distant field in order to escape possible 
pursuers. The pigs were then dressed and stealthily taken 
into camp and as quietly distributed. The day following the 
general, who was the host of the owner, having a suspicion of 
the battery men, ordered a search of our camp. Lieutenant 
Arnold, who was in command, went to each detachment and 
gave notice that a search was to be made to find the missing 
pigs, and advised us to hide the pork if we had any. As our 
tent floor was covered with a good supply of straw, we found 
no difficulty in doing so. Soon an officer came, accompanied 



120 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

by Lieutenant Arnold, and searched our quarters, but, of 
course, found no fresh pork. It is needless to say that Lieu- 
tenant Arnold and his brother officers did not go without a 
good share of the secesh pig. 

It was on the 14th that the army organized into three 
grand divisions, right, centre, and left ; the right commanded 
by Gen. E. V. Sumner, the centre by Hooker, and the left by 
Gen. W. B. Franklin. The right grand division consisted of 
the Second and Ninth corps, the left consisted of the First 
and Sixth corps, and the Third and Fifth corps formed the 
centre. The Eleventh corps was held in reserve under Sigel. 
At the time of Burnside's appointment as commander-in- 
chief he was requested to forward his plan of operations. 
Within a few da)'s he sent a report of his intended move- 
ment. It was in these words : " To concentrate all the 
forces near this place and impress upon the enemy a belief 
that we are to attack Culpepper or Gordonsville, and at the 
same time accumulate a four or five days' supply of men 
and animals ; then make a rapid move of the whole force to 
Fredericksburg, with a view to a movement upon Richmond 
from that point." Burnside then proceeds to give at length 
his reasons for his plan. Upon the reception of this an ar- 
rangement was made for a consultation between Halleck and 
Burnside at Warrenton. They met on the 12th and contin- 
ued the consultation into the next day. Halleck agreed if the 
President approved the plan to send the pontoons and sup- 
plies promptly. He then returned to Washington and laid 
the plan before the President, who after a careful study of 
the movement proposed gave his consent. General Burnside 
then proceeded to act upon his designs. On the 15th, the 
r ght grand division, under General Sumner, began the for- 
ward movement, followed on the i6th by the left and centre 
grand divisions, under Generals Franklin and Hooker. Soon 
after Sumner's command started an attack was made upon 
General Sturgis's wagon train, near Sulphur Springs, in con- 
sequence of which our battery hitched up and moved to the 
top of the hill joining our camp, and, after waiting several 
hours, were ordered to return to camp. On this day, Sergt. 
Joseph S. Milne received his commission as second lieutenant, 
dated November i ith, and was assigned to Battery B, of Rhode 
Island. Serijeaiit Milne was a voung man of fine abilitv and 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 121 

had a promising" future. His departure from us was regretted 
by all, especially by the fifth detachment, whose sergeant he 
had been from the beginning, being then only twenty years 
old. He belonged in Tiverton, R. I., but was born in Bolton, 
N. Y. By trade he was a printer. He served faithfully at 
Fredericksburg, where he had a horse shot under him. At 
Gettysburg he likewise served with increased credit, but be- 
fore the battle ended he received his mortal wound, of which 
more will be said at a later date. 

The battery left camp November i6th, at nine a. i\l., and 
marched with the corps to Warrenton and encamped on its 
western hills, which gave us a fine view of the town and its 
surroundings. November 17th, left Warrenton in the rain 
about six A. m., and went about ten miles, and halted at Lib- 
erty Run, a branch of Marsh River. A shooting affair caused 
quite an excitement about the time of our arrival. It was 
said that an officer shot one or two men during a dispute 
about some straw, which so enraged the regiment that they 
chased the officer out of camp. 

On the 1 8th, moved at nine a. m., and passed through 
Bealeton Station, to about one mile beyond Morrisville, a 
hamlet of three houses. On the 19th left park at nine a. m. 
and marched some six miles and went into camp, passing on 
our way the First Rhode Island Cavalry, whose band was 
playing in a church. Our company teams during the da}'' 
w^ent to Belle Plain Landing after forage. Elias H. Mathew- 
son, although an excellent driver, overturned his team, doing 
no special damage. November 20th, w^e made no forward 
movement, but a sad affair occurred which resulted in the 
death of George Higgins. It seems that Quartermaster- 
Sergt. Charles A. Brown was ordered with a detail of men, 
of whom Higgins was one, to go after some hay that was 
stacked some distance from camp. During the loading the 
men became engaged in a rude frolic, and after it had been 
unduly prolonged, the quartermaster sought to bring it to an 
end. This effort Higgins stoutly persisted in defeating, 
which brought on an encounter with sabres. The sergeant 
Avarned him to desist, to which he paid no heed, but contin- 
ued with his reckless thrusts ; when the sergeant, with no 
intention other than to prick him slightly with the point of 
the sabre, hit him in the abdomen, penetrating so deep that 



122 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

it caused his death the next day. It caused quite an excite- 
ment in the battery, and threats of revenge were freely hinted 
at among his friends. In the meantime Sergeant Brown 
reported the affair to the captain, who reported the case to 
General Birney, who refused to take any action in the matter. 
Captain Randolph then had the company formed into line and 
told them of Birney's decision, and added that if any more 
threats were made he would severely punish the offenders, 
or words to that effect. Higgins was not over wise and by 
no means as vicious as his acts would seem to indicate. 
Nothing suited him better than a rough and tumble frolic, 
and when once started he never knew when to stop, and no 
amount of hard usage would in the least keep him quiet. 
He was what might be called the clown of the battery, and 
was more sinned against than sinning. He belonged in 
Canterbury, Conn , and was from eighteen to twentv years 
old. 

On the 2 1st, Higgins was buried just in rear of camp. 
George H. Burlingham, on account of his reported desertion, 
was reduced to the ranks. The position of Corp. F. B. 
Butts, who had changed his service to the navy, was declared 
vacant. Private William H. Steere was promoted corporal 
and was probably assigned to the sixth detachment. Private 
James Mulligan promoted corporal and probably assigned to 
first piece. Steere and Mulligan were both in the hospital, 
and neither ever served as non-commissioned officers. 

Gunner Geo. W. H. Allen, of fifth piece, was promoted ser- 
geant of same piece, vice Milne promoted second lieutenant. 
Second Corp. Lester S. Hill promoted gunner of fifth piece, 
vice Allen promoted sergeant. Private Edward A. Chandler 
promoted second corporal, vice Hill promoted. The new 
officers of the fifth detachment were in every way worthy of 
their advancement, as their subsequent history fully proved. 

November 22d, we left this unfortunate camp and marched 
to within about two miles of Fredericksburg and encamped 
on the south side and near the Richmond, Fredericksburg & 
Potomac Railroad, near what was afterwards known as Stone- 
man's Switch. It was about two miles west of Belle Plain 
Landing. The camp afterwards was known as Camp Pitcher, 
near Falmouth, Va. 

The whole of Burnsidc's armv. 116,000 strong, was now in 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 23 

front of Fredericksburg, the advance under Sumner having 
arrived on the 17th. General Burnside arrived at Falmouth 
on the 19th. Hooker's grand division, to which we belonged, 
was the last to arrive. 

It was the intention of General Burnside to have crossed 
as soon as his forces arrived, but when he reached Falmouth 
he was greatly disappointed, as the promised pontoons had 
not arrived. The result was that the crossing had to be 
postponed. For three days after the advance had arrived at 
Falmouth, there was no force that could have prevented our 
army from crossing the Rappahannock. On the 22d the 
hills in the rear of the city were bristling with shining bay- 
onets borne by the defiant army under General Lee, whose 
two massive army corps were commanded by the unsurpassed 
generals, Jackson and Longstreet. It was not until the 2$th 
that the pontoons arrived at the general headquarters. Of 
the delay of the pontoons much has been written as to who 
was responsible, but from the best evidence available it rests 
upon General Halleck, and General Meigs the quartermaster 
of the army. Had the engineer officers in charge been in- 
formed of the necessity for their prompt delivery the result 
might have prevented the terrible slaughter at Fredericks- 
burg Heights. 

It was now necessary for the army to await the maturing 
of another plan of procedure. * The commanding officers in 
the meantime had suitable quarters provided for their re- 
spective commands. It was not feared that General Lee 
would take the offensive, as his army had been too much 
broken and depleted by his Maryland invasion and the battle 
of Antietam. The natural defensive position the heights of 
Fredericksburg offered him in which to recruit and strengthen 
his army, confirmed this conclusion. It was not General 
Burnside's intention, however, that General Lee should reap 
any advantage from his inactivity, and he at once proceeded 
to form a plan to overcome the formidable obstructions 
thrown in his way. In the meantime our camps were assum- 
ino" a more comfortable condition. 



124 HISTORY OF BATTERY E,' [Nov., 



CH APTE R XIII. 

November— December, 1862. 

Camp Pitcher and Battle of Fredericksburg. 

NOVEMBER 23d, our battery resumed camp duties by- 
washing carriages and cleaning harnesses, preparatory 
to an inspection, which occurred on the 24th, by Gen- 
eral Stoneman. On the 25th there was a division review in an 
open field south of our camp, the reviewing officers being 
Generals Hooker, Stoneman, and Birney. The three follow- 
ing days we had field and manual drills, followed by a Sun- 
day inspection on the 30th. 

Several Rhode Island regiments and batteries were en- 
camped in the vicinity, which gave us an opportunity to visit 
our Rhode Island friends. December 2d, James F. Pratt died 
from an overdose of morphine, taken by mistake during the 
night before. Dr. Smith had prescribed for him two kinds 
of medicine, one being morphine, to be taken alternately. 
By mistake he repeated the dose of morphine. Every effort 
was made to restore him from its effect, but, after several 
hours spent in unsuccessful efforts, the attempt was given 
up, and he died soon after and was buried the same day. 
Dr. Smith had been in constant attendance from the discov- 
ery of the accident. One month later his father, who be- 
longed to the First Rhode Island Cavalry, came and with the 
assistance of his son's comrades, had the body e.xhumed and 
sent home. 

December 3d, Lieutenant Bucklyn returned from Rhode 
Island, having been absent for three months on sick leave. 
As before stated he was sent to the hospital at Georgetown, 
where he remained si.x weeks, when he received an extension 
of his leave of absence for six weeks more. The officers and 
men gave him a hearty welcome, and congratulated him upon 



i862.] FIRST R. I. -LIGHT ARTILLERY. I 25 

his return to his duties, which he had always so faithfully- 
performed. 

The men began to cut logs for tents, which work was con- 
tinued for several days, little thinking they would soon after 
being finished have to vacate them. On the 5th, it was cold, 
rainy, and cheerless, followed the next day^ by snow, which 
fell some two inches deep. We continued daily at work 
upon our tents until the 9th. December loth, the unwel- 
come order came to have three days' rations prepared, which 
was soon followed by an order to pack up. 

To leave our comfortable quarters at that season of the 
year was by no means an agreeable one, but as true soldiers 
we knew our duty too well to complain. The question as to 
what the movement was to be and where we were going was 
upon every man's' lips, although from past experience we 
knew that time and patience alone would answer the question. 
The next morning at sunrise we broke camp, and started 
towards Fredericksburg, the sight of which, with the vast 
army around us in motion, soon revealed the mystery of the 
movement. It was plainly evident that Burnside had matured 
a plan of action, and that its execution had now commenced. 
Whatever it might be, Battery E was determined to perform 
its duty with credit to itself and to the state it represented. 
For a better understanding of the very brief description of 
the battle of Fredericksburg I will state the position of the 
troops. The general course of the Rappahannock in front of 
the city runs from the northwest to the southeast. About 
one mile north of the city lies the little town of Falmouth, 
opposite of which the river changes its course nearly west, 
and half a mile west of Falmouth you come to Beck's Island. 
Just west of this island a range of hills commences and ex- 
tends down the south side of the river to near the Massaponax 
River, a small stream about four miles south of the city. The 
northern portion of this range, where it joins the Rappahan- 
nock, is known as Taylor's Hill. Joining this on the south- 
east comes the now famous Marye's Hill ; next comes Tele- 
graph Hill, where Lee had his headquarters, and what is now 
known as Lee's Hill on that account. On the south side of 
Lee's Hill is a valley through which flows Deep Run Creek, 
to the south of which is a gentle elevation extending to Ham- 
ilton's crossing, over the railroad. 



126 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

Upon this elevation was posted Jackson's corps, whose 
brave troops two divisions of the gallant Third corps unsuc- 
cessfully attempted to dislodge. R. H. Anderson's division 
of Longstreet's corps occupied Taylor's Hill. Ransom's and 
McLaws divisions of the same corps, were posted upon 
Marye s Hill between the unfinished railroad and the plank 
road. Pickett's division occupied Lee's Hill ; Hood's division 
lay across Deep Run Creek joining the division of A P Hill 
of Jackson's corps. The divisions of Early and Taliaferro 
were in rear of A. P. Hill. D. H. Hill's and Stuart's 
cavalry guarded the right flank of the Confederate army to 
the west and east of Hamilton's Crossing. On the Union or 
northsideof the river were the Stafford Hills, from whose 
towering heights our artillery shelled and partly burned the 
city on the nth. This was a sad necessity, owing to the fact 
that 3,000 rebels were sheltering themselves in and behind 
the houses, and firing upon the engineer brigade layino- the 
pontoon bridges. At three a. m. the bridges were ''com- 
menced, and, as daylight approached the rebels bec^an to fire 
on the men constructing them, killing and woundino- fifty- 
seven. These attacks were kept up until three p m^ when 
troops were sent across in boats, they advancing and drivino- 
the rebels from their hiding places. The bridges were theS 
finished without further delay. It was during these constant 
attacks upon our men who were laying the pontoons, that a 
portion of the 133 guns posted upon Stafford's Heights opened 
upon the city. The bridges below the city were laid without 
much annoyance and were completed during the forenoon 
Ihe guns upon the range of Stafford's Heights included the 
reserve, and all but one battery belonging to each division 
After the completion of the bridges and our troops had 
ettected a landing the division batteries rejoined their com- 
mands as they passed over the river. Five pontoon brido-es 
were built on the nth and one later, two above the centre^'of 
the town, one opposite the lower end, and three about one 
and a quarter miles below the town. Over the latter crossed 
l<ranklin s t\vocoi-ps(first and si.xth), also Eirney's and Sickles's 
divisions of the Third corps. The upper bridges were finished 
so late in the afternoon that only Howard's^livision of the 
Second corps and Hawkins's brigade of the Ninth, crossed 
that night. During the 12th the Second and Ninth corps 




»-" - ^~%^ 



^^- ,v 



Pardon S. Jastram, 1st Lieut. Commanding. 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 12/ 

completed their journey across and took possession of the 
town. They were fmmediately followed by Whipple's divi- 
sion of the Third corps, which was ordered to " hold the ap- 
proaches to the city from the southwest, and, under the 
orders of General Couch, protect his right flank while moving 
forward to attack the enemy in front." 

Birney'sand Sickles's divisions of the Third corps, with our 
battery, moved forward from the position where we had halted 
the morning before, to within a short distance of the city, 
when we again halted to await the movements of other troops. 
While waiting here we were mustered in and paid for four 
months' service. Doubless some of the money was collected 
by the rebels after the battle. This was the first day's ser- 
vice of Captain Randolph as Birney's division chief of ar- 
tillery. It was also the day that Lieutenant Arnold took 
leave of the battery to become captain of Battery A, of which 
he assumed command the next day while in the streets of 
Fredericksburg. This necessarily left Lieutenant Jastram in 
command of the battery, although Captain Randolph still 
made it his headquarters. 

It was about night when the divisions of Sickles and 
Birney moved forward towards the left, our battery leaving 
somewhat later and reaching a point about three or four miles 
below the city, moving by a back road to prevent being seen 
by the enemy. It was eleven p. m. before we encamped, and, 
after caring for our horses, we lay down upon the ground to 
get a few hours of rest, but the thoughts of the approaching 
battle weighed so heavily upon our minds that our rest was 
very much broken. Soon the hours of the night were passed, 
and the morning of the eventful 13th arrived, bringing with 
it the preparations for the conflict. Franklin's two corps, the 
First commanded by General Reynolds, and the Sixth under 
Gen. William F. Smith, had previously crossed the river on 
the 1 2th and had posted Smith's corps on a line with the old 
Richmond road, Brook's division being on the right of Frank- 
lin's command and joining Burn's division of the Ninth corps. 
On the left of Brooks's came Howes's division, whose left was 
joined by Newton's division. " Reynolds's corps was formed 
at nearly right angles to Smith's, his right resting on Smith's 
and his left on the river. In front of Franklin's command 
lay the heights of Fredericksburg. Between these heights 



128 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

to be attacked and the plateau on which the First and Sixth 
corps were posted, there was a hollow of several hundred 
yards in width through which, and close to the foot of the 
heights the Richmond railroad ran. The heights along the 
crest were wooded. The slope to the railroad from the extreme 
left for the space of about 400 yards was clear. Beyond this it 
was wooded, the woods extending across the hollow and in 
front of the railroad. The plateau on our side was level and 
cultivated ground up to the crest of the hollow, where there 
was quite a fall to the railroad. The enemy occupied the 
wooded heights, the line of railroad, and the woods in front. 
Owing to the woods nothing could be seen of them, while all 
our movements on the cleared ground were exposed to their 
view." This description by General Meade gives a clear 
view of the field of action upon which Franklin's and 
Hooker's commands met the brave troops of "Stonewall" 
Jackson. The formation of the line of battle was in the form 
of an angle, which subjected our troops to a front and flank 
attaclCat the pleasure of the enemy. 

Between nine and ten a. m. General Meade ordered for- 
ward his division in line of battle, when immediately Pel- 
ham's rebel battery opened upon our left flank, to which 
three batteries of Meade's promptly replied and soon caused 
its withdrawal. No infantry, except the sharpshooters, were 
engaged on either side at this time. Our lines were forming 
to attack the heights in front, and hardly had the formation 
been completed when the enemy opened with a battery 
posted upon the heights at our extreme left. To this firing 
Cooper's, Amsden's and Ransom's batteries replied, and, 
after half an hour of severe shelling, the enemy's battery was 
silenced, apparently having one or two of his ammunition 
chests exploded. The infantry now advanced, driving the 
enemy's skirmishers before them into the woods, through 
which the railroad ran. Here the enemy was found posted 
behind defences, out of which the First brigade drove them, 
following them to the railroad, over which they were driven, 
they stubbornly fighting as they retreated to beyond the crest 
of the hill. During the pursuit the First brigade was sub- 
jected to a heavy fire upon their right flank by infantry and 
artillery. After driving the enemy across the road, which 
runs along the crest of the heights, they held the ground un- 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 29 

til heavy reinforcements were brought against them in front 
and on their flanks, when they were obHged to retire to the 
railroad. The Second brigade followed the First, and, after 
reaching the railroad they were so hotly attacked on their 
right that a portion of them had to change front to the right 
to repel the attack. The rest of the brigade continued to 
advance and were attacked on the left flank, but continued 
to fight their way until reaching near the same point as the 
First brigade, when they in turn were compelled to retire for 
the same reasons. The Second brigade, before retiring, had 
captured 200 prisoners and safely brought them to the rear. 
The Third brigade attempted to advance further to the left, 
and had not proceeded far before they were attacked by a 
battery from the left. The brigade then attempted to flank 
the battery and capture it, and partly succeeded, when Gen. 
Feger Jackson, its commander, was killed. From the se- 
verity of the fire of the infantry and artillery, with the loss 
of their general, they were compelled to retire. 

General Gibbon, who commanded the Second division of 
Reynolds's corps, had not been idle during the fight of Gen- 
eral Meade. Previous to noon the division had been in line 
in front of the Bowling Green Road, and about noon moved 
forward and attacked the rebels on the railroad to the right 
of Meade. Although less successful, his division fought 
bravely, and had the troops on his right advanced with him, 
he doubtless would have made a more successful assault. 
While the contest of Meade and Gibbon was in progress. 
General Stoneman received orders to send a division to sup- 
port Reynolds and to hold the other in readiness to cross at 
a moment's notice. Immediately the First (Birney's) was 
sent and reached the battlefield in rear of General Meade 
about noon. At this time the Third corps was stationed, to 
use the words of General Stoneman, as follows : " Myself 
and staff at the headquarters of General Franklin ; three 
miles above was Whipple's Third division, detached to the 
support of Sumner ; in front and moving into position to 
support Reynolds's corps, was the First (Birney's) division ; 
on the other (this) side of the river was the Second (Sickles's) 
division, from which had been detached a battery of rifled 
guns and sent to General Smith, four regiments to guard 
bridges, and one regiment to support batteries, so that my 
9 



130 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

corps was divided and sub-divided into seven parts or parcels, 
and scattered and distributed over a space of country six 
miles long by two or three wide." 

Stoneman soon after went to the front with Birney's di- 
vision. On arriving at the front General Stoneman says : 
" Gibbon's and Meade's divisions had driven the enemy be- 
yond the railroad and were hotly engaged with him in the 
woods on the high grounds above. By request of General 
Reynolds, Birney formed his division to support Meade : 
Ward's brigade on the right, and Berry's brigade on the left ; 
Robinson's brigade, for some cause, having been delayed on 
the road. Gibbon's division was without any support what- 
ever. Meeting General Gibbon, by his request I directed 
General Birney to send two regiments to occupy a suitable 
position and support his battery, which was in soft ground, 
without ammunition and considerably crippled. Shortly af- 
ter Meade's division began to retire, soon followed by Gib- 
bons, and both in no little confusion and disorder. Every 
effort was made to rally them, but all to no purpose. Re- 
gardless of threats and force, and deaf to all entreaties, they 
sullenly and persistently moved to the rear, and were re- 
formed near the banks of the river by their officers, many of 
whom used every endeavor in their power to stay their weary 
and overpowered troops. A portion of Ward's brigade, un- 
der its general, was sent by General Birney to the support of 
Meade, and they in turn were driven back, but immediately 
reformed in rear of Robinson's brigade, which had arrived 
and was just then deploying in line of battle in front of the 
batteries of Livingstone and Randolph. The enemy now 
advanced in strong force, but the brigades of Berry and 
Robinson, together with three regiments of Ward's brigade, 
on the extreme right, by a well-directed fire, first checked the 
advancing foe, and then drove him back into the woods be- 
yond the railroad, taking a considerable number of prisoners." 
While the enemy was being repulsed on Birney's front, the 
ground previously held by Gibbon had not a man or gun for 
its protection. A staff officer was hastily sent to hurry up 
Sickles's division, who soon arrived and promptly formed his 
division to cover the vacated ground. No sooner had Sickles 
posted his troops than the rebels under General Hood ap- 
peared in full force on his right. The artillery was opened 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I3I 

upon him, causing him to desist in making any further ad- 
vancement. No more fighting by the' infantry occurred dur- 
ing the remainder of the day although sharp skirmishing 
was kept up until after dark. Just before sunset, however, 
the enemy opened a battery of fourteen guns from their right 
upon the batteries to our left, to which the batteries of Liv- 
ingstone, Randolph, with Cooper's battery, of Meade's di- 
vision, and Leppien's battery, of Gibbon's division, responded, 
and after a sharp encounter of about fifteen minutes the en- 
emy's batteries ceased firing. We remained in position un- 
til near midnight, when we moved back across the Bowling 
Green Road. Being now comparatively out of immediate 
danger we made an attempt to get a few hours' rest. Our 
loss during the day was four, two killed and two wounded. 
Cornelius Sullivan was instantly killed by the explosion of a 
rebel shell, inflicting a terrible wound in the head. Only a 
short time before he said, jestingly, to a group of comrades, 
that "the shot is not yet cast that will kill me." He 
was a bright and brave fellow, about eighteen years of age, 
and was a lead driver in the fifth detachment. He enlisted at 
Providence, R, I., and joined the battery when in front of Rich- 
mond, on the 26th of June, 1862. William Mason belonged 
to the centre section and was severely wounded, and died the 
next day. Of his history nothing is known except that he en- 
listed from Warwick, R. I., and joined the battery as a recruit 
Feb. 28, 1862, while at Artillery Camp, near Alexandria, Va. 
He, too, was a brave and useful soldier. The wounded were Mar- 
tin Brown and Adelbert A. Fairbanks, slightly. Sergt. C. P. 
Williams was hit in the leg by a spent ball, receiving no injury. 
Considering our exposed position and the quite constant 
shelling we received from the several batteries that attacked 
us, our escape from a more severe loss was quite remarkable. 
Had a movement of the enemy upon our battery succeeded, 
we should have been captured, although they would have paid 
dearly for the prize. The movement referred to was when 
Meade's reserves were being driven back across the railroad, 
and were being hotly pursued by a victorious enemy. As 
they approached to within a hundred yards of our battery, 
we, with Livingstone's battery, opened upon them with can- 
ister, which was so annoying that they were determined to 
capture both batteries, and had deployed inline for that pur- 



132 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

pose, but their designs being discovered, Robinson's brigade, 
which had just arrived upon the field at a double-quick, was 
ordered by Birney to form a line of attack and drive back the 
advancing foe. How successfully he accomplished his task, 
an extract from his report will tell : 

" Entering the field at a double quick, I formed a line of 
battle in rear of Livingston's and Randolph's batteries, 
towards which the enemy was then moving, and were in dan- 
ger of being captured. As soon as I had two regiments in 
line I pushed forward to meet him. These regiments, the 
One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers (Col- 
lis's Zouaves), and the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
advanced beautifully, delivered a galling fire into the face of 
the enemy, and charging at a double quick, drove him in con- 
fusion back to his works." 

Sumner's attack upon the heights in rear of Fredericks- 
burg was entirely independent of Franklin's on the left, and, 
as it had no bearing upon the movements of Battery E, I 
shall only very briefly refer to it. Sumner's command con- 
sisted of the Second and Ninth corps, being assisted by a part 
of Hooker's, whose forces were widely scattered with the ob- 
ject of supporting either Sumner or Franklin as occasion re- 
quired. Sumner was expected to capture the main heights, 
which were held by the corps of General Longstreet, which nat- 
ural position had been strongly fortified. The principal attack 
was made upon Marye's Hill, whose approaches were covered 
by a stone wall and rifle-pits, behind which was posted the first 
line of Long-street's troops. About noon General French 
advanced his division to the attack, followed by Hancock's 
division, who were met by a storm of leaden hail, before which 
they soon recoiled. Battery A, of Rhode Island, commanded 
by our late lieutenant, now Captain Arnold, was engaged in 
this assault, and he maintained the reputation won in Battery 
E as a brave and energetic officer. Whipple's division re- 
lieved General Howard from the right, whose division now 
came to the front and soon became engaged with no better 
success. At two p. m. Hooker came upon the scene of action 
with Butterfield's Fifth corps, and was ordered to put in all his 
forces when Sykes's, Grififin's and Humphreys's divisions were 
advanced into action and suffered severely, most of the 
mounted officers being unhorsed. General Humphreys losing 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 33 

two horses. These assaults were continued until night, re- 
sulting only in disaster to our brave troops. Sumner and 
Hooker had both entreated Burnside to desist in the attempt, 
but he persisted in refusing, and not until the next morning 
after going to the front and consulting with other generals, 
did he consent to countermand his orders to continue the as- 
saults. In these daring efforts the artillery from both sides 
of the river gave their assistance, Hazard's battery (B, of 
Rhode Island,) losing sixteen men and twelve horses. The 
Seventh and Twelfth Rhode Island Infantry were engaged 
and received credit from their brigade commander. The 
Twelfth lost io8 and the Seventh 158, including its lieuten- 
ant-colonel. Welcome B Sayles and Major Babbitt. General 
Longstreet, after giving an account of these terrible assaults, 
says : "A sixth time they charged and were driven back, 
when night came to end the dreadful carnage, and the Fed- 
erals withdrew, leaving the battlefield literally heaped with 
the bodies of their dead. Before the well-directed fire of 
Cobb's brigade the Federals had fallen like the steady drip- 
ping of the rain from the eaves of a house. Our musketry 
alone killed and wounded at least five thousand, and these, 
with the slaughter by the artillery, left ov^er seven thousand 
killed and wounded before the foot of Marye's Hill. The 
dead were sometimes piled three deep, and when morning 
broke the spectacle that we saw upon the battlefield was one 
of the most distressing I ever witnessed." 

On the morning of the 14th, the sun rose bright and cheer- 
ful alike on both armies, seeming to mock the hopeless ex- 
pressions upon the faces of the one hundred thousand troops 
of the Federal army. The deadly assaults which so disas- 
trously failed of success the day before, with the universal 
dissent of all the general officers against the continuance of 
the attempt to carry the impregnable heights, gave to the 
troops nothing upon wdiich to expect success. It was with these 
feelings that we left our position in the rear of the road to 
resume our place, which we had vacated during the night 
previous. 

As we approached the hill to retake our position all was 
silent save the occasional firing of our vigilant skirmishers. 
Was this to continue, or was it the foreboding of a forthcom- 
ing storm in which the army was again to be baptized in 
blood } 



134 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

This was the spirit if not the actual line of thought which 
permeated the minds of the Army of the Potomac on this 
beautiful Sunday morning. It was not long before this silence 
was to be broken, as orders from General Birney were received 
to shell the wood in our front, which we at once proceeded to 
do. Our firing continued only a short time, and not eliciting 
any reply we were ordered to cease firing. After a short 
time we were again ordered back beyond the road, where we 
remained during the day. Nothing occurred to indicate that 
the battle would be renewed. Our dead were being collected 
and brought to the rear for burial, and the wounded cared for 
and sent to the hospitals across the river. An occasional shot 
was fired from along the whole line during the day, but other- 
wise all continued silent, and the same duties w^ere continued 
during the Monday following. Our dead and wounded were 
all disposed of under a flag of truce. Our battery resumed 
its place at the front but fired no shots. About noon the bat- 
tery again returned to the rear of the road, and after dark our 
horses were unhitched to give them a much-needed rest, after 
which we spread our blankets upon the ground and were soon 
forgetful of our deathly surroundings. Not over two hours 
passed before our sergeants were awakened and ordered to 
have their teams hitched up with as little noise as possible. 
No sooner had we hitched up than we were ordered to fall 
into a line of artillery and recross the river, the artillery and 
wagon trains taking precedence. 

After reaching the river we were delayed in crossing, owing 
to the steep embankment, which was, because of constant 
use, in very bad condition. To prevent accident our wheels 
were chained, and by careful driving and the vigilant watch- 
fulness of Lieutenants Jastram and Bucklyn, with the aid of 
numerous lanterns, we safely passed over the pontoons. 
Owing probably to the darkness, the left section, commanded 
by Lieutenant Bucklyn, became separated from the other sec- 
tions after crossing, and, after an ineffectual effort to find 
them, it moved to the foot of the hill in front of Burnside's 
headquarters, and halted to await daylight, After the proper 
care of our horses, the tarpaulins were spread over the guns, 
and under them the weary detachments lay down to rest. 
They were not long allowed to enjoy their repose, for the rain, 
which had commenced soon after, caused streams of water to 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 35 

run under the resting cannooneers. After being awakened 
by the intruding rivulets, the course of the water was changed 
by ditching, after which there was no further trouble. The 
other sections were more fortunate in their camping- 
grounds. 

On the morning of the i6th, the sections of the battery 
were united and returned to their old camp, which was found 
to be in good condition. By noon all the troops of the Army 
of the Potomac were in their old camps except a portion of its 
artillery, which was left in position for awhile upon the range 
of hills in front of Fredericksburg. It was with mingled 
feelings of gladness and sorrow that the army resumed its 
daily routine of duties ; glad to be relieved from the horrors 
of the battlefield, with all its attendant sufferings ; but all 
this relief was more than cancelled by the thought that thir- 
teen hundred of our comrades were silent in death and as 
many more suffering with serious wounds, perhaps to end in 
death, to say nothing of those wounded less severely. Nor 
was this all, for we must add the suffering thousands of wives, 
mothers and sisters at home, many of whom were dependent 
upon the fallen for support. This unveiled a picture sad 
enough, without adding the effect of a longer-continued 
struggle upon our enemies at home and abroad. Rhode 
Island was represented in this battle by the Fourth. Seventh, 
Second and Twelfth Regiments, and six batteries of artillery, 
A, B, C, D, G, and E. 

From these several regiments and batteries Rhode Island 
has recorded upon her rolls of honor the names of three hun- 
dred and sixteen brave men who were killed or wounded. 

Battery E, although not losing many, performed her part 
with honor, alike to itself and the State which it represented. 
It is safe to say that few commands ever had more respect 
for each other than did the officers and men of Randolph's 
battery. The cool self-possession of our captain gave confi- 
dence to his men, which was further increased by the faith- 
fulness of the zealous Jastram, the brave and daring Bucklyn, 
who, with the honest and manly Sheldon, formed a trio of 
lieutenants of whom any company might well be proud. 
What our captain had to say about this battle will be found 
in the following report : 



136 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

Report of Capt. George E. Rai/dolp/i, Chief of Artillery, 
First Division. 

Camp Pitcher. Va.. Dec. 17, 1S62. 

Captain: I have the honor lespectfully to report the operations of the 
artillery of this division during the actions ot the 13th, 14th, and 15th 
instants, as follows : 

My two batteries, F and K, Third Artillery, and E, First Rhode Island 
Artillery, crossed the Rappahannock River about 10.30 a. m., December 
13th, following the infantry of the division, and were almost immediately 
placed in position to support the line of General Reynolds, relieving the 
battery of Captain Ransom. The position was quite good, a ridge pro- 
tecting limbers and caissons, and within easy range of the enemy's line 
of battle in the edge of the woods and on the railroad. Livingstone's 
battery, under First Lieutenant TurnbuU, on right of the line occupied 
by the Pennsylvania reserves and mine, under Lieutenant Jastram, imme- 
diately to the left of Livingstone's. Our first action was to fire shell and 
spherical case shot into the edge of the woods, receiving in reply the fire 
of a rebel battery, which occupied a commanding position on a hill oppo- 
site the left of the line occupied by our division subsequently. I was 
soon compelled to cease firing any fuse proiectiles, having found the tuses 
entirely unreliable, and that the use of them endangered our troops over 
which I was firing. Upon the repulse of the Pennsylvania Reserves, 
under General Meade, the enemy's line of infantry Avas pushed within 
canister range of our line under cover of a ridge, and opened fire upon our 
cannoneers ; but he was so cautious that we suffered little from his fire and 
we had not the opportunity of injuring him, which, if he had been a little 
bolder, we would have had. However, the battery opened with canister 
with greater effect than might have been supposed, especially from Liv- 
ingstone's battery, which, from the formation of the ground in front, 
could see and reach the enemy most easily. The admirable firmness 
of our regiments prevented my fearing for the safety of the guns, and the 
manner in which they drove the enemy to the woods proved tliat my con- 
fidence was not misplaced, and that temerity on the part of the enemy 
would have caused his ruin. There was occasional firing between our 
batteries and those of the enemy during the entire day. Towards even- 
ing they opened fire from some ten guns upon General Doubleday, who 
w-as engaged to our left, but a well-directed fire from our batteries, includ- 
ing those of Captains Cooper and Leppien, soon silenced them. I was 
somewhat annoyed by an enfilading fire iVom a battery tar to our left, but 
the great distance prevented its doing the harm at first api^rehended. 
Both batteries were withdrawn at night behind the road. During Sunday, 
the 14th, I fired occasionally into the lines of battle along the railroad 
and the edge of the woods, using generally solid shot. In the afternoon 
Battery E was withdrawn by order of Major-General Franklin to the rear 
of the road. Embrasures were cut in the bank, enabling it, though pro- 
tected entirely, to sweep the field should our first line be repulsed. On 
Monday we were not engaged. The Ijatteries preceded the division and 
recrossed the river about midnight on the 15th and i6th. All the officers 
under my command behaved handsomelx', and I was especially pleased 
with the manner in which Lieutenant Jastram handled my battery, of 
which he had been but one day in command. Tiie batteries of Captains 
Cooper and Leppien, on my left, did good service. The practice of the 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 37 

Fifth Maine (Captain Leppien) attracted my especial notice and admira- 
tion. 

Following is a list of casualties : Battery E, First Rhode Island Artil- 
lery (Lieutenant Jastram), 2 privates killed and 2 siightl}' wounded; 2 
horses killed and 5 disabled. Batteries F and K (Livingstone's), Third 
Artillery, 5 privates wounded ; 2 horses killed and S wounded. The loss 
in material was very slight. Ammunition expended, about 800 rounds. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

George E. Randolph, 

Captain First Rhode Island Artillery, 

Chief of Artillery. 



138 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

December 17, 1862, to April 27, 1863. 

Camp Pitcher Resumed — Burnside's Second Failure — 
Winter Quarters — Camp Sickles. 

DECEMBER 17, 1862, found us in our old camp pre- 
paring to build new quarters. Our new camp was 
built in a hollow, formed somewhat like a horse shoe, 
surrounded on three sides by table lands, which protected us 
from the cold winds and gave us the full benefit of the warm 
sun. The men's quarters were built en the west side and the 
officers' and quartermaster's tents were upon the north, all 
facing inward. The stables were built upon the south, being 
well protected from the storms by a frame work of poles, 
covered with pine boughs on the top and rear. The tents of 
the enlisted men were built partly into the embankment, the 
hill side being protected by split logs. The sides for about 
two feet in height, were also built of logs, the tops being can- 
vas. Each tent had a fireplace, the chimney of which gener- 
ally did good service, but when the wind was blowing very 
hard it would sometimes carry the smoke in the wrong direc- 
tion. The new camp was completed in about one week, each 
detachment moving into its quarters as soon as finished. We 
began to construct our barn on the 6th of January, and finished 
it about the 15th. 

On the 2 1 St, another brave comrade by the name of Edwin 
A. Matteson, passed over the river. He joined the battery 
as a recruit Sept. 4, 1862, when near Alexandria, just after 
the second Bull Run defeat. He belonged in West Green- 
wich and was one of three sons of Jeremiah Matteson, who 
had enlisted in the service, the other two being in Battery B, 
one being wounded at Ball's Bluff and Gettysburg, and the 
other taken a prisoner at Ball's Bluff, but was exchanged and 



i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I 39 

served out his term. Edwin was taken to the hospital on the 
day the battery started for the battle of Fredericksburg, and 
died there. The evening after his death the writer made a 
long search to find Battery B to inform his brother George, 
but failed to succeed. Two days after his brother came to 
see him and was shocked to learn that his brother was dead 
and buried. Soon after his body was exhumed by a friend from 
home and taken to Rhode Island. 

While we were building our tents and preparing our camp 
for comfort and convenience, the thought never occurred to 
us that another move would take place until spring, at least, 
but no sooner had we completed our military home than on the 
26th an order came to keep on hand nine days' rations. This 
was not an agreeable indication, but we had experienced so 
many false alarms that we hoped this would be nothing more. 
Although no move was made it was learned subsequently that 
one was intended which was to cross the river about six miles 
below Fredericksburg and attack Lee in the rear. At the 
same time an extensive cavalry raid was to be put in motion 
by General Averill, who was to move around the rearof Lee's 
army and destroy bridges, telegraph lines, and canals, thereby 
severing Lee's communications. The movement was to com- 
mence on the 30th, but while these plans were being ar- 
ranged Generals Newton and Cochrane went to the president 
and represented to him that the army was greatly demoralized, 
resulting from its want of confidence in General Burnside, 
and that the movement, if allowed to proceed, would result in 
certain disaster. The result was that the president tele- 
graphed Burnside to make no move without his sanction. 
Burnside then hastened to Washington to see the president, 
when he learned the cause of the President's dispatch, al- 
though the names of the informing generals were not given. 
Not being able to convince the president that the movement 
would succeed, he returned to the army, being convinced that 
the two generals who went to see the president were the 
agents of generals much higher in rank than themselves. 

The expected move having been countermanded the men 
settled down to camp life in good earnest, determined to get 
the best out of the poor surroundings. Our visits to Rhode 
Island regiments and batteries, which were now encamped 
near by, were continued, and return calls were always wel- 



140 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

come. The indispensable army sutlers were again on hand, 
willing as ever to take the last dollar from the needy soldiers. 
Notwithstanding the exorbitant prices of sutlers' stores, it 
did not prevent them from having a ready sale. While it was 
to the disadvantage of the soldier's family at home, at 
least financially, they doubtless derived some consolation from 
knowing that the absent husband and son had something 
better than army rations. The following extracts from some 
of the diaries kept by the men in the battery seems at this 
distant day like reading a romance. The dates are omitted : 
" Had griddle cakes for supper." " Had sauce, bought flour, 
sugar and dried apples." " Baked beans and pork, cake for 
dinner, hot biscuit for breakfast." "Beef, onions, roast pig 
stuffed for dinner." " Had conglomerated stew." " Roast 
turkey with fixings for dinner." " Fried liver for breakfast." 
"Turkey supper again," etc. Besides the articles named there 
were pies, cakes, canned meats and fruit, and a score of other 
articles, all of which found their way into the soldier's tent, 
provided he had money or could borrow some, and for which 
he sometims paid dearly. It became proverbial to offer "two 
for one pay day," sometimes three for one, but that was sel- 
dom. 

December 31st, the battery was mustered for two months' 
pay. 

Jan. I, 1863, found the army well settled and hoping for a 
long rest. Encamped near us were our old brigades, between 
whom and our battery there had sprung up an unusual at- 
tachment. During the autumn a third division was attached 
to the Third corps, commanded by Gen. Amiel W. Whipple. 
It was a small division of only two brigades, composed mostly 
of New York and Pennsylvania troops. On the 29th of De- 
cember Gen. John C. Robinson, who so long and well com- 
manded the First brigade of Kearny's old division, was as- 
signed to the Second division of the First corps, being super- 
seded by Col. Samuel B. Hayman, of the Thirty-seventh 
New York. Hayman's brigade was now composed of the 
Twentieth Indiana, Sixty-third, Sixty-eighth, One Hundred 
and Fifth, One Hundred and Forty-first, and One Hundred 
and Fourteenth Pennsylvania regiments, the latter being a 
Zouave regiment. The Second brigade (Ward's) contained 
the Third and Fourth Maine, Thirty-eighth and Fortieth 



IS6:^] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I4I 

New York, Fifty-sixth and Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania. The 
Fifty-fifth New York was consolidated, December 23d, with 
the Thirty-eighth, under command of Col. P. Regis De Tro- 
briand. 

The Third brigade was composed of the Seventeenth 
Maine, Third and Fifth Michigan, and the First and Thirty- 
seventh New York. The One Hundred and First New York 
was consolidated into the Thirty-seventh. The artillery of 
the division consisted of Battery E, First Rhode Island, 
Lieutenant Jastram commanding, and the Third United 
States, Batteries F and K, commanded by Lieut. John G. 
Turnbull. George E. Randolph was chief of artillery. Dan- 
iel E. Sickles commanded the Second division. His brig-ade 
generals were Joseph B. Carr, Joseph W. Revere, and Ger- 
shom Mott. This division had four batteries: B, First New 
Jersey, Captain Clark ; Fourth New York, Lieutenant Harn ; 
First United States, Battery H, Lieutenant Dimick ; and 
Fourth United States, Lieutenant Bancroft. December 25th 
General Meade relieved General Butterfield in command of 
the Fifth corps. The day following General Sedgwick super- 
seded General Couch in command of the Second corps. The 
above was the composition of the Third corps Jan. i, 1863. 

January 2c]. Our division was reviewed by General Stone- 
man, and the next day followed a field drill by Lieutenant 
Jastram. On the 4th, the following privates were promoted 
to corporals : Albert A. Hopkins, John M. Battey, Herbert 
F. Bennett, John J. Mulhall, and Richard Alexander. The 
second was assigned to the sixth detachment, vice Butts, who 
had gone into the navy. Bennett went to the second detach- 
ment, vice Lord reduced for physical disability ; Mulhall to 
the fourth, Alexander to the first, Hopkins to the third. 

January 5th. Our corps was reviewed by General Burn- 
side and staff, the reviewing ground being a large open field 
lying south of our camp. Twelve batteries and nine brig- 
ades were in line. The discipline of the corps was very sat- 
isfactory to General Burnside. 

January 6th. Details of men from each detachment were 
sent to the woods to cut poles for a new barn. These details 
were continued daily until the barn was completed. 

January loth. Chaplain John A. Perry reported with fif- 
teen recruits for the battery, all but two soon became desert- 



142 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Jan., 

ers. It was generally thought that they had some assistance 
in doing so. It certainly did not increase the reputation of 
some who were connected with the recruiting serv^ice, whether 
justly or not they alone can tell. The following is a list of 
their names : John Bradford, John Black, Charles E. Baker, 
William Chapman, James Clarke, John Cunningham, Patrick 
Graham, Nicholas Kenny, Edward Noyce, John Smith, Wil- 
liam Riley, John Andrews, James Morrissey, Nicholas Cur- 
rey, and Henry Nicholas. Only two of these did not desert, 
Charles E. Baker, who received a commission March 19th, 
and John Cunningham, who afterwards reached the rank of 
sergeant, serving until the battery was mustered out of ser- 
vice. Cunningham's true name was Hamilton. Being a 
southern man, he assumed the name of Cunningham to avoid 
identity should he be captured. It is more than probable 
that nearly all of these recruits assumed false names. 

George W. Covill, who had some disease of the back, was 
discharged on surgeon's certificate. One year after he en- 
listed again in the Seventh Rhode Island Infantry, serving 
with it until the close of the war. 

January 12th. Four more recruits arrived from the same 
source, and all deserted within a few days. Their names 
were Charles Morgan, Charles Frost, William F. Richie, and 
William Kirk. 

January 13th. Lieutenant Jasti-am started for Rhode 
Island on a leave of absence of twelve days. The same day 
Second Lieut. J. Russell Fields reported to the battery, having 
been promoted from sergeant in Battery G, Rhode Island 
Artillery. 

January 15th. Our anticipated quiet was disturbed by the 
movements of the pontoon train to the right, which was not 
lessened by an order received the next day to have three 
days' rations prepared and to be ready to move at short 
notice. On the i8th the order to move was postponed twent)'- 
four hours, being repeated on the 19th. Corporal Simpson 
returned from the hospital, where he had been sick since 
Aug. 10, 1862. 

On the 20th the order to move was repeated, and about 
noon the Third corps started for Banks's Ford, eight miles 
above Fredericksburg, Birney's division in advance, the corps 
being followed bv the whole armv. The advance halted, a 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 43 

mile or so before reaching the river, in a large field of pine 
woods, it being the intention to await till morning before 
crossing the river. Although it was pleasant at noon, by 
night it began to rain, and continued almost constantly for 
thirty hours. It is needless to say to any one acquainted 
with the soil of Virginia, that any further attempt to advance 
or retreat was almost impossible. The artillery, the wagons 
and pontoons, were completely mired, and to await the com- 
ing of suitable conditions for an advance would be useless, 
as the enemy would be apprised and ready to dispute the 
crossing of the river. Nothing could be done but to tarry 
until the mud subsided and then return to camp, and an or- 
der to this effect was given the following day. So com- 
pletely was the army stuck in the mud that no attempt was 
made to return until the 23d, although a detail from many 
regiments and batteries, including our own, was sent back 
the day before to guard the camp from the irrepressible 
stragglers. The two days of supreme misery in this camp 
of mud will long be remembered by every soldier partici- 
pating. Officers and privates generally fared alike. Tents 
and provisions belonging to the officers of a large number of 
regiments were mud-bound in the rear, which was a great 
satisfaction to the grumbling soldier, whose greatest delight 
consists in having his superiors subjected to all the privations 
endured by himself. At noon on the 23d, Battery E started 
for its old camp, reaching it just before night, and finding it 
in better order than was anticipated. Our battery met with 
no loss save two of Perry's worthless recruits, by name Noyes 
and Andrews, who deserted on the 21st. 

It was the intention of General Burnside to have forced 
General Lee from his entrenchments and to give battle else- 
where, but the elements were against him. This failure did 
not lessen the criticism which had been rife since the battle 
of Fredericksburg, knd very many of his officers had openly 
declared against the movement. The criticisms were not 
confined to the army, but found their way to the War De- 
partment at Washington, where they were in some degree 
effective. 

General Burnside was, at his own request, relieved from 
the command of the Army of the Potomac. The President 
then appointed General Hooker to succeed Burnside, which 
was announced by the following order : 



144 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Jan., 

js OF THE Army of the Potomac. 
Camp near Falmouth, Jan. 26, 1S63. 



HEADqLTARTERS OF THE ArMY OF THE POTOMAC. "t 



General Orders No g. 

By direction of the President of the United States the commanding 
general this day transfers the command of this army to Major-Genera! 
Joseph Hooker. Tlie short time tliat he has directed your movements has 
not been tVuitfiil of victor}', nor any considerable advancement of our 
lines, but it has again demonstrated an amount of courage, patience and 
endurance that under njore favorable circumstances would have accom- 
plished great results. Continue to exercise these virtues, be true in your 
devotion to your country, and the principles you have sworn to main- 
tain. Give to the brave and skillful general who has long been identified 
with your organization, and who is now to command you, your full and 
cordial support and co-operation, and you will deserve success. Your 
general, in taking an aftectionate leave of the army, from which he sep- 
arates with so much regret, may be pardoned if he bids an especial fare- 
well to his long and tried associates of the Ninth corps. His prayers are 
that God may be with you, and grant you continued success until the 
Rebellion is crushed. 

By command of Maj. Gen. A. E. Burnside. 

Lewis Richmond, 

Assistant Adjutant- General. 

Ben. Perley Poore, in his Life of Bitvnsidc, says: "After 
being relieved from the command of the Army of the Po- 
tomac, Burnside went to Washington, where he formally ten- 
dered his resignation as a major-general of volunteers to 
the president, but Mr. Lincoln declined to receive it, quaintly 
remarking that he had 'other fish for him to fry.' General 
Burnside replied that he would willingly accept any command, 
he cared not what it was, but that he was extremely reluc- 
tant to wear a major-general's shoulder straps, and draw a 
major-general's pay, while doing nothing to earn his honor 
or his money. The genuine honesty, sincerity and unselfish 
patriotism of the man was everywhere understood, and his 
journey from Washington to Providence, accompanied by 
Mrs. Burnside, was a continuous ovation, the people assem- 
bling in crowds at the stations to do him honor." 

On the i6th of March, 1863, Burnside was assigned to the 
Department of Ohio and assumed command on the 25th. 
In this large field of action he won imperishable honors. 

It was but natural that Rhode Island troops should regret 
the departure of General Burnside. The limitations of our 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 45 

State in territory and men, prevented us from sharing very- 
many of the honors bestowed upon the Army of the Po- 
tomac. In the selection of a successor of our honored Burn- 
side as commander-in-chief, no one could have been more 
welcome than Gen. Joseph Hooker. His long and bril- 
liant services as general of division, and his success as corps 
commander at Antietam, with his well-known daring and in- 
trepid movements in battle, had given him the name of 
" Fighting Joe Hooker." With such a commander we had 
every reason to hope for a speedy success in forcing Gen- 
eral Lee from his fortifications behind Fredericksburg. His 
great popularity among the troops was not shared so uni- 
versally by the officers, as his open manner and free criticism 
of others had made him some enemies. His opposition to 
the policy and methods of General McClellan, to whose re- 
moval he had given his approval, did not increase their love 
for him. There was, however, no disposition on the part of 
these officers to act otherwise than as duty demanded. 

Now that the attempted battle was over and our new com- 
mander-in-chief installed, we again resumed our regular rou- 
tine of camp duties. It now being quite evident that we 
should have no more of the "on to Richmond" during the 
winter, we set to work upon our tents, making them as com- 
fortable as our means would permit, and those who had built 
no chimneys proceeded to do so. Further additions to our 
barn were made and everything arranged preparatory to a 
quiet winter. 

There had been numerous changes during the last three 
months in the corps commanders. On the assumption of 
General Hooker there followed still another change. The 
grand divisions formed by General Burnside were abolished 
by Hooker on the 5th of February, 1863, and the following 
major-generals were assigned to commands, viz. : To the 
First corps, John F. Reynolds ; Darius N. Couch to the 
Second, Daniel E. Sickles to the Third, George G. Meade 
to the Fifth, William F. Smith to the Ninth, Franz Sigel to 
the Eleventh, and Henry W, Slocum to the Twelfth. Gen. 
Stoneman, who had commanded the Third since October 
30th, was assigned to the cavalry. Gen. Hiram G. Berry 
superseded Sickles in the command of the Second division of 
the Third corps. The Department of Washington was re- 
10 



146 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Feb., 

created on the 2d of February, and its troops constituted 
the Twenty-second corps, with General Heintzehnan in com- 
mand. About the loth of February the Ninth corps was 
transferred from the Army of the Potomac to Newport News, 
Va., where it remained idle until April, when two of its di- 
visions, under Generals Wilcox and Sturgis, were sent to 
join Burnside at the West. The Third division, under Gen- 
eral Getty, was sent to Suffolk, and it never again joined the 
corps. When Hooker assumed command, Generals Sumner 
and Franklin were relieved from duty with the Army of the 
Potomac. Having detai'led the new commands let us again 
return to Battery E. 

February 4th, seven more of Chaplain Perry's recruits de- 
serted. Furloughs for ten days were now being given .to the 
men. Quartermaster Charles A. Brown and James Sterling 
were the first to receive them in our battery, starting for 
home on the 5th, accompanied by a snow storm, which 
turned to rain at night. 

Another visit from Chaplain Perry on the 7th, who re- 
ported that he had lost the bounty money due the recruits, 
Thomas H. Potter was discharged on surgeon's certificate. 

On February loth, Lieut. J. Russell Fields left on a leave 
of absence. 

February 12th, soft bread was substituted for hard tack, 
which was a welcome change. 

February 15th, Captain Randolph left for Rhode Island on 
a ten days' leave of absence. 

February 20th, the next two fortunate men to receive 
furloughs were Sergts. J. F. Allen and C. S. Winslow. 

February 22d, salutes were fired throughout the army in 
honor of Washington's birthday. It was a rare day in Vir- 
ginia, as the snow was six inches deep, being also cold and 
windy. 

The last week in February was a very quiet one with Bat- 
tery E, and also throughout the Army of the Potomac, a few 
skirmishes by the cavalry being the only exception. 

March opened with rain, followed on the 2d by pleasant 
weather. We had a company inspection for the first time in 
three weeks. 

March 3d, oar first field drill for many weeks. Received 
some boxes of vegetables from the citizens of Rhode Island, 
a rare treat for which we were grateful. 



i863 ] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, 



147 



March 4th. Ward's and Robinson's brigades, owing to the 
scarcity of wood, were moved three miles towards the Po- 
tomac. The batteries, being suppHed with horses, were bet- 
ter able to get their wood from a distance and were allowed 
to remain until later. 

_ March 6th, we received orders to prepare for a corps re- 
view, but after hitching up the order was countermanded. 
March 5th, Sergt. William Millen received a furlough for ten 
days. March 6th, Lieut. J. Russell Fields returned from his 
leave of absence, and Private Benjamin N. Remington re- 
ceived a furlough. March 7th, Sergt. Charles P. Williams and 
Private George Lewis were granted a furlough, but owing to 
an accident did not reach Washington that night in time 
to take the boat to New York, which obliged them' to 
remain in Washington until Sunday evening, greatly to their 
disappointment. Marvin M. Leavens also received a fur- 
lough, but his was a leave of departure to which there was 
no return. He died of fever in the Livingston Hospital. 
He was fifty-five years old, a man of quiet manner, and 
highly respected by all the battery. He enlisted at Providence 
July 30, 1862, and joined the battery near Alexandria on the 
4th of September. He was by trade a painter, but had also 
been engaged in the livery stable and stage business in Prov- 
idence, R. 1. March nth, Lieutenant Sheldon went home on 
a leave of absence. March i6th, Lieutenant Fields resigned 
and Charles H. Bogman joined the battery, being trans- 
ferred from Battery G. March 9th, Sergt. Arthur W. Har- 
graves went home on a furlough. March 22d, Corp. J. A. 
Tanner received a furlough also. A few others received fur- 
loughs during the month, among them being Lowry Strait and 
our bugler, Thomas Waterhouse. The latter after reaching 
home deserted. 

An order vvas issued from General Birney's headquarters 
for the selection of four men from each company who were 
to receive a medal after the next battle to denote their brave 
and soldierly conduct. Battery E selected William Torpy 
from the right section, John McAlees from the centre sec- 
tion, Albert N. Colwell from the left section. Martin Har- 
vey was selected by a vote of the battery, the others by vote 
of the sections. The vote in the left section stood twenty for 
Colwell, ten for Harvey, four for Lewis, and one each for three 



148 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 

Others whose names are not recorded. The names of those 
not selected in the right and centre sections and the number 
of votes they received, are not on record. The medals were 
presented later. 

March 27th, there occurred a very successful review of 
Birney's division, the reviewing officers being Generals 
Sickles and Birney. Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania was 
also present. 

The 27th of March will never be forgotten by the men of 
Birney's division, and no greater jollification ever occurred in 
the Army of the Potomac. It took place upon a large open 
field near Birney's headquarters. A large stand was erected, 
120 feet long and 16 feet wide, which was occupied by fifty 
or sixty ladies. All the generals were invited and nearly all 
were present upon the stand. The amusements consisted of 
horse-racing of all kinds, many amusing incidents occurring, 
and several accidents ; one, which was quite severe, hap- 
pened to Colonel Salm Salm, who was thrown from his horse, 
breaking, it was said, some of his ribs. Other amusements 
followed of a more comical nature, in which privates were 
allowed to participate. The first, a foot race, with prizes of 
ten, five, and three dollars ; next, climbing the greased pole ; 
then a wheel of fortune, followed by other sports of various 
kinds. Governor Curtin and General Hooker were present 
and were highly pleased. After the close of these amuse- 
ments a large number of invited guests gathered at General 
Birney's headquarters, where a merry-making time was en- 
joyed for several hours. These festivities were closed with 
an Ethiopian concert, the participants being members of 
Ward's brigade. The day was one of nature's best, which 
added greatly to its pleasures. 

The next day the weather continued warm, ending with a 
thunder shower. 

March 29th, orders came to turn in all of our blankets but 
one, which proved to be an unwise order, as two days after 
the ground was covered with three inches of snow. April 
ist, was cold and cheerless. Reveille at 3.30 a. m., being 
caused by a false alarm, which proved to be an "April P^ool " 
at our expense. 

After three months of camping at this place the wood 
became so scarce that we had to draw it from a distance of 




Lie Lit. Charles A. Brown. 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 49 

several miles. To avoid this trouble it was decided to move 
Hayman's brigade to the locality occupied by the others. 

April 2d, another cold day. Good fortune gave us an ample 
supply of wood from the vacated camp of the Thirty-seventh 
New York, but the hours were few in which we were allowed 
to enjoy its blessings, for at noon we, too, were ordered to 
break camp and accompany the infantry to their new camp- 
ing-place. The spot selected for our battery was in the 
direction of Belle Plains, near Potomac Creek, about three 
miles distanffrom our old camp. Our new camp was upon 
a slightly elevated knoll, sparsely covered with pine trees. 
A few of these were cut down to make room to park the 
guns, those remaining gave the camp an agreeable shade 
during the occasional warm days which were quite frequent 
in Virginia as early as April. This camp was known as 
Camp Sickles. The next two days our camp was laid out 
and arranged in proper order, and, on the 5th, four or five 
inches of snow covered the ground. 

April 7th, our guns were dismounted preparatory to paint- 
mg, but the president's arrival at the army headquarters 
foreshadowed a review and they were remounted. 

April 8th, hitched up to take part in the review, but the 
order for our attendance being countermanded, we again dis- 
mounted our guns and began painting the carriages, finishing 
them the next day. A review of the Second, Third, Fifth, 
and Sixth corps was, however, successfully carried out, being 
reviewed by the President, accompanied by his wife, son, and 
a host of generals with their staff officers. 

April loth, Birney's division was reviewed by the presiden- 
tial party, and Generals Hooker, Sickles, and Birney, the men 
of Battery E without their guns, forming the right of the 
line, giving to the president nine hearty cheers as he passed 
their line. 

April nth. Quartermaster Charles A. Brown* received a 
commission as second lieutenant, and was assigned to Bat- 
tery B, of Rhode Island. He had been a very efficient 
officer since March 8th, 1862. He did not leave the battery, 
however, until the 19th. 

April 1 2th, our guns were remounted and inspected by 
Captain Randolph, chief of the First division artillery. 
Lieutenant Bucklyn left for Rhode Island on a short leave of 
absence. 

* Mustered on the 14th. 



150 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

April 14th, we were paid for four months, also ordered to 
turn in our knapsacks and hold ourselves in readiness to 
move at short notice. It was not generally known by the 
men of Battery E at this time that an effort was being made 
by Col. Charles H. Tompkins to have all the Rhode Island 
batteries in the Army of the Potomac transferred to his 
command. Colonel Tompkins was then colonel of the First 
Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, and chief of artil- 
lery in the Sixth corps. The following letter written by 
General Birney clearly explains the effort, and is one of which 
the men of Randolph's battery may well be proud : 

HEADqUARTERS FiRST DIVISION, ThIRD CoRPS, ) 

April 16, 1863. j" 

Colonel : I have j-ours of this date asking for information as to Ran- 
dolph's batterj and as to the request of Colonel Tompkins for its ti^ansfer 
to the Sixth corps. The battery was assigned to this division whilst it 
was under the command of General Ileintzelman in 1S61, and has served 
with it ever since, and has been in service with the division constantly 
under Generals Hamilton, Kearn^', Stoneman, and myself, in all the en- 
gagements in which this command has participated. It was under my 
immediate eye and command at Malvern, Manassas, Chantilly, and Fred- 
ericksburg, and also behaved gallantly under Genei'al Hooker at Bristoe 
Station (Kettle Run). The battery is perfectly identified with the division 
and is kept filled by anxious volunteers from the best men in our reg- 
iments. 

Captain Randolph, in the division, has declined promotion fearing it 
might take him from this command, and the division could as soon part 
with its distinctive color as with Randolph's batterj'. No exchange would 
please us even if three batteries were sent for this one. The battery 
received special praise in General Orders, No. iS, Army of the Potomac, 
for its condition. It is a model battery in every respect, and I do not 
believe that any officer in the service is superior to Captain Randolph in 
keeping his batteries in admirable order. The battery has 136 men and 
three ctlicers present. I would urge the necessity of not taking from this 
division at the commencement of the campaign this old battery so iden- 
tified with its histor}-.* 

(Signed), D. B. Birney, 

Brigadier- General. 

The following is an extract of General Orders, No. 18, 
referred to in Birney's letter : 

The following regimen's and batteries appearing from inspection re- 
ports to have earned commendation from inspecting officers, it is left to 
the discretion of the corps commanders to increase the leaves of absence 

* This letter w:is read to the Company in line on tlic 17th. 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I51 

and furloughs of these commands for the fifteen dajs following the 
receipt of this order, to three instead of two enlisted men for every one 
hundred present for duty, and three officers instead of two as provided in 
General Order, No. 3, Jan. 30, 1S63. 

Among the list of ten regiments and fifteen batteries who 
earned the above high commendation from the inspecting 
officers were Batteries A, B, and E, of Rhode Island. 

The battery would have been very sorry to leave the old 
gallant Third corps, and to General Birney is due the credit 
of keeping" it in that honored command. 

Upon the same date of this letter of Birney's the battery 
had orders to sew upon the crown of their caps a red diamond, 
to be known as the badge of the First division of the Third 
corps. To General Kearny belonged the credit of originat- 
ing this badge during the Peninsular campaign. When Gen- 
eral Hooker assumed command of the army, among many re- 
forms introduced was the general use of these badges 
throughout the army. De Trobriand says in his Four Years 
of the Army of the Potomac : 

"Thus during the campaign of the Peninsula, Kearny had 
contrived to render all the men of his division recognizable 
by a little red cloth sewed on their caps. . . . Hooker 
took up the idea and extended it to all the troops in his com- 
mand. Each corps had its particular badge. The First 
corps the disc, the Second the trefoil, the Third the diamond, 
the Fifth the Maltese cross, the Sixth the Greek cross, the 
Ninth the shield, the Eleventh the crescent, the Twelfth the 
star. Each of these badges was red for the First division, 
white for the Second, and blue for the Third. Each staff also 
received a special flag, with its badge and distinctive color. 
It was square for the corps, oblong for the division, triangular 
for the brigade. In this way, whether on the march or in ac- 
tion, the generals were always easily found." 

When Hooker took command the deserters reached an 
average of two hundred a day. The number absent was 
alarming. There were 2,922 officers and 81,964 enlisted 
men, the greater part being absent without known cause. 
General Hooker says : " My first object was to prevent deser- 
tions. When I had succeeded in that I turned my attention 
to bringing back the absent and to make the men present as 

* See De Trobriand, as above page 415. 



152 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

comfortable as circumstances would permit. I made regula- 
tions as to furloughs and leaves of absence, so that every one 
could be away a few days in the course of the winter. Dis- 
loyal officers were dismissed the service." 

Hooker also reformed the methods of inspections. Again 
Hooker says : " Convinced that idleness was the great evil in 
all armies, I made every effort to keep the troop.s busy, partic- 
ularly at drill and manoeuvres, as often as the weather per- 
mitted. 

These and many other reforms were introduced, which 
brought the army to a degree of efficiency which it had never 
before reached. 

For the efficiency and good discipline of Battery E more is 
due to Captain Randolph and his able lieutenants than to 
Hooker's reforms ; of this no better evidence is needed than 
the testimony of General Birney in his reply to the request of 
Colonel Tompkins. 

On the 19th of April, Second Lieutenant Benjamin Free- 
born reported for duty, having been promoted from sergeant 
in Battery G. His promotion was to fill the vacancy caused 
by the resignation of Lieutenant Fields. Although the 
junior officer, he took charge of the right section. 

We were inspected by Captain Randolph with grain and 
provisions on the caissons, being ready to move at short no- 
tice. 

April 22d, Corp Albert A. Hopkins, at the request of Cap- 
tain Randolph, consented to become company blacksmith. 
This was a severe loss to his detachment, as he was one of 
the best-drilled members and a competent officer. He had 
been officially honored as the best-drilled No. i in the divis- 
ion. 

April 23d, Private Benjamin N. Remington was promoted 
quartermaster-sergeant, vice Charles A. Brown promoted ; 
his appointment to date from April 14th. 

Sunday, April 26th, another inspection by Captain Ran- 
dolph. After the inspection he took leave of the battery, he 
having been appointed artillery chief of the Third corps, 
with a corps staff. Although we were glad of Randolph's 
deserved promotion, it was, nevertheless, with sad hearts that 
we witnessed his departure from us. It can be said without 
flattery that his ability as an officer had but few if any supe- 



1863] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 53 

riors in the army ; but what was more to us, his conduct as 
a man and gentleman was above reproach, and in all his deal- 
ings with the officers and men not one, I believe, ever ques- 
tioned his motives as being otherwise than honorable and 
just. The staff of Captain Randolph was composed of the 
following officers: First Lieutenant Pardon S. Jastram, Bat- 
tery E, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, acting assistant 
adjutant-general ; First Lieutenant Rufus K. Case, Sixth 
New Jersey Volunteers, acting assistant quartermaster ; Cap- 
tain D. Tarbell, commissary of subsistence; Robert A. 
Stanton, ordnance officer; Surgeon William H. White, 
United States Volunteers. 

On the 27th our corps was reviewed by Generals Hooker, 
Sickles, and Secretary of State Seward. After returning to 
camp orders came to be prepared to march the next day. 
This order, although received with some regrets, relieved us 
from the monotony of camp life. 



154 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April. 



CHAPTER XV. 

May, 1863, 

Battle of Chancellorsville — Return to Camp 

Sjckles. 

GENERAL HOOKER was now about to commence a 
campaign against the most adroit and skillful general 
brought forth by the Rebellion, the discipline and 
bravery of whose troops had not been excelled in any 
modern war. That he would in his efforts be successful was 
the ardent hope of a loyal North, and the brave army who 
were expected to execute his will. How well that hope was 
realized has long been settled by the verdict of impartial his- 
tory. No changes had taken place in the corps commanders 
since February 5th, except in the Eleventh corps, which was 
then under General Sigel, who was relieved by Gen. Carl 
Schurz on the 29th of March, who, in turn, was succeeded by 
Oliver O. Howard on the 2d of April. At the commence- 
ment of Hooker's campaign, the total force of the Army of 
the Potomac was 131,491, exclusive of the provost guard. 

They were distributed as follows, viz. : First corps. General 
Reynolds, 16,908; Second corps. General Couch, 16,893; 
Third corps. General Sickles, 18,721; Fifth corps. General 
Meade, 15,724; Sixth corps, General Sedgwick, 23,667; 
Eleventh corps. General Howard, 12,977; Twelfth corps, 
General Slocum, 13,450; Cavalry corps, General Stoneman, 
11,541 ; Artillery reserve. General Hunt, 1,610. 

The following were the division commanders : First corps. 
Generals Wadsworth, Robinson, and Doubleday ; Second 
corps. Generals Hancock, Gibbon, and French ; Third corps. 
Generals Birney, Berry, and Whipple ; Fifth corps, Generals 
Griffin, Humphreys, and Sykes; Sixth corps. Generals Brooks, 
Howe, and Newton ; Eleventh corps, Generals Devens, 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 55 

Schurz, and Steinwehr ; Twelfth corps, Generals Williams 
and Geary ; Cavalry corps, Generals Pleasonton, Averill, and 
Gregg. General Buford commanded a reserve brigade of cav- 
alry. 

The Confederates were commanded by Gen. Robert E. 
Lee. General Longstreet, who commanded the First corps, 
was absent with Rickett's and Hood's divisions in southeast- 
ern Virginia. His remaining two divisions of Anderson's 
and McLaw's were under command of the latter, and num- 
bered 17,000. Jackson's (Second) corps consisted of A. P. 
Hill's division, numbering 11,000; D. H. Hill's division, 
commanded by General Rodes, 9,000; Trimble's division, 
under General Colston, 6,000; and Early's division, 7,400 ; 
Stuart's cavalry division, 2,700; artillery, 170 pieces, manned 
by 5,000; making a total of 58,100 troops. When Hooker 
commenced his movement General Lee's army occupied the 
height south of the Rappahannock from Bank's Ford above 
to Port Royal, below Fredericksburg, covering in a straight 
line about fifteen miles, all the approaches being strongly for- 
tified and occupied by the hitherto unconquered army of 
Northern Virginia. 

For the purpose of capturing or routing this army. Hooker 
had, during the first half of April, matured his plan to accom- 
plish that object. It was designed by demonstrations below 
Fredericksburg to hold Lee at or draw him below the city, 
while he (Hooker), with his main force, was to cross above 
and move down the river to the vicinity of Banks's Ford, 
thereby forcing Lee to retreat or meet him upon his chosen 
ground. It was intended that if General Lee chose to meet 
him in battle above the city that the force remaining below 
the town would advance and capture the fortifications, after 
which it was to follow Lee and attack him in the rear, and 
between them to crush and destroy the Confederate army. 
But if he retreated the two wings of the Union army were to 
pursue him on different roads fighting him wherever circum- 
stances dictated. In conjunction with the above plan, the 
cavalry was to cross at the upper fords and move to the rear 
of Lee's army and sever his communications, and to destroy 
such other property and stores as fell in its way. It was ex- 
pected that this cavalry force of 10,000 troops would draw 
from Lee's army at least his cavalry, if not his infantry. To 



156 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

this end the First, Third and Sixth corps received orders on 
Monday, April 27th, to place themselves in position ready to 
cross below Fredericksburg by 6.30 Wednesday afternoon, 
the artillery to be placed in position so as to cover the cross- 
ings whenever the troops attempted to pass over. On the 
28th the above corps moved as directed except " Dimrich's, 
Lewis's and Randolph's batteries, which were in reserve be- 
tween the railroad and the Lacy House," near Falmouth, 
(Sickles), Lieutenant Jastram commanding, the latter being 
temporarily absent in Washington, the battery was under 
command of Lieutenant Bucklyn until the return of Jastram 
on the 30th. 

April 27th. The Eleventh, Twelfth and Fifth corps were 
ordered to march to Kelley's Ford, which they reached at four 
p. M. At six p. M. the pontoon bridge was begun, and at ten 
p. M. it was finished, over which the Eleventh crossed during 
the night, followed by the Twelfth the next morning. The 
Fifth corps crossed in rear of the Twelfth. As Kelley's 
Ford is some fifteen miles above the junction of the Rapidan 
with the Rappahannock, it became necessary to cross the 
former before reaching the battle ground. The Fifth corps 
crossed at Ely's Ford by wading. Humphreys's division re- 
mained until the trains had passed, after which he followed 
the column. Sykes's division, after crossing, marched to 
United States Ford and drove away the rebel force there, 
thereby shortening the route of the other troops which were 
to follow. Griffin's division marched direct to Chancellors- 
ville. The Eleventh and Twelfth corps marched to Germania 
Ford, about ten miles up the Rapidan, a portion of the infan- 
try wading nearly to their armpits. The bridge being soon 
completed, the remaining portion crossed over by the light of 
bonfires on the banks. 

About two p. M., Thursday, April 30th, these two corps, 
under command of Slocum, reached Chancellorsville, and 
found a portion of the Fifth corps already in position. The 
Twelfth corps was deployed south of the plank road, with 
left at the Chancellor House and the right near Wilderness 
Church, which line the Eleventh corps prolonged to the 
vicinity of Hunting Creek." The right of the Fifth corps 
joined the left of Slocum, its left extending towards the 
river. 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 57 

April 28th, General Couch was ordered to send two divi- 
sions of his corps to near Banks's Ford, and one brigade, with 
a battery, to United States Ford, one division (Gibbon's) 
being left in camp in front of Fredericksburg to perform pro- 
vost and guard duty. The division at Banks's Ford, after re- 
pairing the roads and assisting in laying the pontoons, crossed 
over and reported at Chancellorsville at nine p. m. While 
these preliminary movements of the other corps were taking 
place, the Third corps remained in front of Fredericksburg 
until one p. m., Thursday, the 30th, when General Sickles re- 
ceived an order to report his command at the United States 
Ford by Friday morning, May ist, not later than seven a. m. 
At 1.30 p. M. the corps started in three columns, march- 
ing over roads that were hidden from the view of the enemy, 
the artillery taking its place with its proper divisions. Bat- 
tery E joined the column at about two p m. Clark's Battery 
B, First New Jersey, which joined the First division the day 
before, entered the column about the same time. This bat- 
tery was commanded by Lieutenant Sims, A. Judson Clark, 
its captain becoming chief of artillery on the day of his 
transfer to the First division. The head of the corps reached 
Hamet's, on the VVarrenton road, about midnight, our battery 
not arriving until one p.m. At five a.m., May ist, the corps 
started again, Birney in the advance, crossing the Rappahan- 
nock at seven a. m. as ordered, and was marched to near the 
" junction of the roads leading to Ely's and the United 
States Fords." Mott's brigade of Berry's division, See- 
ley's and Randolph's batteries were left at the ford tempora- 
rily to guard the trains that were .parked there. Mott re- 
mained until seven a. m. the 2d. During Friday, May ist, 
while. Battery E was stationed at the United States Ford, the 
army at the front was preparing to make an advance to its 
chosen position in the more open country opposite of Banks's 
Ford. To this end General Sedgwick, who was in command 
of the Sixth and First corps at Fredericksburg, was ordered 
to threaten the enemy's position at Hamilton's Crossing at 
one p. M., but the order was not received until five p. m. 
Nevertheless, a display in force was made by Reynolds's First 
corps, supported by Brooks and Newton of the Si.xth corps ; 
but the order was soon countermanded, and the troops re- 
sumed their former position. In the meantime General 



158 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

Meade was directed to move his corps " to a position to uncover 
Banks's Ford, with his left resting on the Rappahannock, the 
right extending to the plank road." That General Lee 
would, if possible, prevent Hooker from getting possession of 
this ford was self-evident. Its value to the Union army was 
of great importance, as it shortened the communication be- 
tween its right and left wings fully six miles. General 
Meade says in his report that " these movements were com-, 
menced at eleven a. m. Sykes moved out on the old pike, 
and after proceeding over a mile met the enemy's skirmish- 
ers. He immediately deployed, and after a spirited engage- 
ment drove the enemy for a considerable distance. Finding 
the enemy in force and making disposition to outflank him on 
both flanks, without any communication either on the right or 
left with a supporting force. General Sykes reported the con- 
dition of affairs to the major-general commanding the army, 
and by him was ordered to withdraw. This he did in good 
order, returning to Chancellorsville. In the meantime, the 
column of Griffin and Humphreys proceeded on the river 
road, and had reached Decker's house, \vithin view of Banks's 
Ford, without any opposition from the enemy, when the order 
of recall was received and the column returned to Chancel-' 
lorsville. 

In conjunction with Meade, General Slocum advanced 
down the plank road until he met the enemy's skirmishers 
about a mile from the Chancellor House, where he formed a 
line of battle and drove the enemy back towards the heights 
of Fredericksburg. Two hours after starting he received an 
order to return to his original line. The withdrawal of these 
columns of Meade's and Slocura's was a surprise to many of 
Hooker's generals at the time, and is now almost universally 
considered by competent military judges to have been a 
fatal error. As the open country east of Chancellorsville, 
where a better use of artillery could be had (to say nothing 
of its better communication with the left wing of the army), 
was Hooker's objective point, it was a strange procedure for 
" Fighting Joe Hooker." Had these columns been pushed 
forward without stopping at Chancellorsville the day before, 
the desired locality could have been reached without much 
opposition. The retreating of these advancing troops made 
it necessary to reform our lines, which was done during the 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 59 

night, and the following" morning they were arranged as fol- 
lows, viz. : Meade's corps held the left from the Rappahan- 
nock to the White House ; Couch joined Meade's right, ex- 
tending to Chancellorsville along the plank road, with Han- 
cock's division thrown out in his front. From Chancellors- 
ville to Dowdall's Tavern it is about one and a half miles 
west. Between these points our lines made a southern 
sweep outwards like a bow, of which the plank road was the 
string. The left of this bow was held by the Twelfth corps. 
Birney's division of the Third corps joined the right of the 
Twelfth, the Eleventh corps holding" the extreme right, its 
line forming an obtuse angle. Whipple's division of the 
Third corps was in reserve at the north and right of Chan- 
cellorsville. 

As before stated Battery E was left to guard the pontoons 
after crossing them, and remained in position until about 
dusk, when orders came to go to the front. The roads over 
which we had to travel were in such condition that it often 
became necessary to leave them and march through tempo- 
rary roads where the ground was so soft that our wheels 
were often mired nearly to the hubs. After a continued 
struggle with the mud Battery E reached the front and went 
into park in the vicinity of the White House about midnight, 
some of the caissons not arriving until several hours after, 
having been mired in the yielding ground. After a few 
hours of rest without shelter, we were again ready to move, 
but made no change until about 11 a. m., when we advanced 
about one mile up the plank road to the rear of Birney's 
division and went into battery a little to the left of the plank 
road. The battery wagon and forge were left behind in 
charge of First Sergt. James F. Allen. Captain Randolph 
says in his report : " At the time of the alarm caused by the 
withdrawal of our lines about 2.30 p. m. of May ist. Turn- 
bull's and Clark's were put into battery in a second line 
parallel to and in rear of the plank road, and on the right of 
the Chancellor House. The other batteries of the corps had 
by this time reported to their divisions near Chancellors- 
ville." This, of course, could not be true of Battery E, as 
we did not reach the front until as above stated. General 
Sickles makes a similar mistake when he says that Birneyon 



l6o HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

the morning of May 2d was making his dispositions with 
admirable discernment and skill with his division, Clark's, 
Randolph's, and TurnbuH's batteries. Captain Clark, chief 
of Birney's artillery, says one section of his battery was 
placed in position about eight o'clock a. m. on the morning 
of the 2d, some two or three hours after TurnbuH's, " and a 
short time after Jastram's (E, First Rhode Island Artillery) 
was placed in position near General Birney's headquarters in 
the open field near the woods." This agrees with the diary 
records kept by several members of the battery. 

It was now evident that Hooker had concluded to take the 
defensive, and every hour of delay was improving General Lee's 
chances of success. Already one day had been lost and it 
seemed another was to follow. Lee's army was now, or sup- 
posed to be, in his front, and had by Hooker's delay chosen 
his own ground. Nothing but hard fighting could remove 
him, every hour of deferred action increasing the difficulty. 
The day was wearing away, and but little fighting had yet 
occurred. Colonel Miles, in front of the Second Corps, had 
.been attacked in his rifle-pits, but with no evident intention 
of forcing a battle. Two regiments of Berry's division had 
been sent by Sickles, by order of Hooker, on a reconnois- 
sance in front and to the left of Chancellorsville, towards 
Tabernacle Church. The rebel pickets and skirmishers were 
driven back upon his main line, but the enemy kept up a 
constant movement as though he intended to make an at- 
tack; otherwise all was quiet. The rebel cavalry had during 
the day been active in feeling our lines, especially in front of 
Howard on the right. To all appearances Generals Lee and 
Jackson were preparing for something decisive. The only 
indication pointing to its solution was that a continuous col- 
umn of infantry, artillery trains, and ambulances of the 
enemy was moving towards our right, which movement was 
seen as early as eight a. m., and soon engrossed the attention 
and speculation of every officer who became cognizant of the 
fact. It was generally thought that the enemy was retreat- 
ing towards Orange Court House, or it might indicate an 
attack upon our right. Soon after the discovery Birney 
ordered a section of Clark's battery to open upon the moving 
troops. Shortly after, the other two sections were ordered 
up, then opening an effectual fire upon the fleeing troops. 



1863.] 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. l6l 

Birney about noon received orders from General Sickles to 
advance a force and attack the moving column and gain pos- 
session of the road over which it was crossing. The Twen- 
tieth Indiana advanced at once into the woods towards the 
enemy s column followed by Colonel Berdan with his sharp- 
shooters. The Twentieth Indiana soon drove in the rebel 
skirmishers and Berdan with his command advanced towards 
tK. w. i' battery was in position, which was further to 
.f \ :u ^^y"^^" s brigade followed and was ordered to 
attack the enemy if found. Graham's brigade was soon 
ordered forward, followed by Ward's, all the Iroops crossing 
Lewis s Creek or Scott's Run on hastily built bridges Ber- 
dan s sharpshooters had advanced to the furnace, where thev 
found a company of the enemy, who in the attempt to escape 
were captured. Birney having reached the furnace with his 
command, was attacked by a battery stationed at the Welford 
rlouse. 

ren\vll"c^?.r'' ^'""'^ '^^' ^'^'^^^>' ^^'^^^h^ ^°^^^^^d, and, 
replying to the enemy s guns, soon silenced them. Having 
exhausted Its ammunition it was relieved by Randolph's bat- 
tery, which arrived at the furnace at about 6.30 p ai Whio- 
ple s division, which had, until ordered to support Birney in 
tne afternoon, remained in reserve near the Chancellor Hduse 
was now in supporting distance in the rear of Birney Wil- 
lams s division of the Twelfth corps was preparing to 

and to the left of Birney's advance. Barlow's brigade of 
Howard s corps was sent to support Birney's right It was 
expected by Sickles that this force ^vould be able to strle 
the enemy s flank and, if successful, to capture a large force 
and possibly divide his army. About the \ime of th? arrival 

rJj\i ''/^^ ^[''".^'^ ^''""^y ^^^^i^'^^^ ^^^lers from 
Captam Moore of Hooker's staff to "advance rapidly" and 
torce the enemy, but he had to move cautiously, for a part 
ot Anderson s division xvas posted upon the table-land bor- 
dering the val ey on his left, into which Hayman's brigade 
had already advanced, and in his front were Wrio-ht's and 

w/i' 'r^'"'^? °^ ^^^ f"'^ ^'^^''°"' supported by Mahone's 
biigade. On his right flank was the rear guard of the sup- 
posed moving column, which was then actually in front of 
Hooker s corps. He sent out scouts to protect his flanks 



1 62 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

Hayman's brigade leading the advance, followed by Graham's 
and' Ward's brigades, the latter keeping open communication 
with the furnace. 

Lieutenant Bucklyn was left at Welford Furnace with the 
left section of Randolph's battery to cooperate with General 
Whipple's infantry. Lieutenant Jastram commanding the 
right and centre sections, under Lieutenants Freeborn and 
Sheldon, was advanced about half a mile to near the railroad, 
where he opened a rapid fire upon the retreating enemy, 
which had been routed by the advance of Birney's division, 
which had preceded it. Bucklyn's section at the furnace was 
not engaged, although subjected to the fire of Anderson's 
sharpshooters. Just as Birney had captured the road over 
which the enemy had been seen to move, and as he was pre- 
paring to bivouac, he received news that the Eleventh corps 
had been routed, and that the enemy was already in his rear. 
This news was so surprising to General Sickles that he 
would not credit it until confirmed by an aide-de-camp of 
General Warren. The mysterious column was now solved, 
and what was surmised by the few before was now known 
by the many ; the statements of captured prisoners that Jack- 
son with his corps was moving to our right i^ank and rear, 
were confirmed. It subsequently became known that Jack- 
son commenced this flank movement early on the morning of 
the 2d, and that his advance under General Rodes had 
reached Howard's rear as early as four p. u. The corps was 
formed in three lines of battle, the first under Rodes, fol- 
lowed by Colston and A. P. Hill. Colston says " orders to 
advance were received at six o'clock precisely and the troops 
moved on with enthusiasm against the enemy." 

Many of our troops were at the time preparing for sup- 
per, with their arms stacked, and so sudden and unexpected 
was the attack that they had only time to seize their arms 
before the enemy's hosts were upon them, advancing with 
their peculiar yell and with such impetuosity that the whole 
corps became panic-stricken and fled before their pursuers 
almost without an effort to stop them. A few brigades and 
some of the batteries made an effort at resistance, but were 
overrun by the daring veterans of Jackson's corps. T. A. 
Dodge, in his Cavipaigu of CJiaiicellorsvillc, says: "Down 
the road towards Chancellorsville, through the woods, up 



iS63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 63 

every side road and forest path pours a stream of fugitives, 
ambulances and oxen, pack-mules and ammunition wagons, 
officers' spare horses mounted by runaway negro servants, 
every species of the impedimenta of camp life, commissary 
sergeants on all-too-slow mules^ teamsters on still harnessed 
team horses, quartermasters whose duties are not at the front, 
riderless steeds, clerks with armfuls of official papers, non- 
combatants of all kinds, mixed with affrighted soldiers whom 
no sense of honor can arrest, strive to find shelter from the 
murderous fire, . . . Howard and his staff are in the 
thickest of the fray, endeavoring to stem the tide. As well 
oppose resistance to an avalanche. . . . In less than half 
an hour the last stand has been swept away and the Eleventh 
corps is in confused retreat down the pike towards head- 
quarters or in whatever direction affords an outlet from the 
remorseless hail." 

Just south of the plank road, in rear of Birney's position 
in the morning, and where the battery was first stationed 
after joining the division, Livingston's battery and the cais- 
sons of Randolph's battery, except two of its limbers, were 
stationed. With these caissons was the officers' wagon, in 
charge of Corp. John M. Battey, of the sixth detachme'nt, the 
caissons being in charge of Corp. George Humphrey of the 
second detachment. Through this camp the fleeing and 
panic-stricken troops passed, accompanied by runaway army 
wagons, ambulances, and frightened batteries, with every 
conceivable conveyance attached to an army. The corporals 
in charge having no orders but to remain with the caissons, 
at first hesitated as to their duty, but when the exultant 
enemy had approached so near as to threaten their safety, 
they chose the wiser course and conveyed them to near the 
Chancellor House, leaving only the two caisson bodies, 
whose horses and limbers had been sent to supply Birney's 
advance with ammunition. 

Levi Jackson, the colored serv^ant of the officers in whose 
care the personal effects of Lieutenant Bucklyn (and perhaps 
other officers also) had been entrusted, came near being cap- 
tured at the caissons during the panic. Being nearly sur- 
rounded by rebels, they cried " Stop, you d — nigger," but 
having been a slave long enough he chose to disregard the 
demand, and with a pair of fleet legs he soon distanced his 
pursuers, greatly to the satisfaction of Lieutenant Bucklyn. 



164 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

As soon as the disaster became known Sickles ordered the 
advance under his command to return, leaving only two regi- 
ments on picket. When Birney had reached the opening 
from which he started at noon, it was quite dark. He soon 
learned that besides the disaster to the Eleventh corps the 
two divisions were really cut off from a direct communication 
with the rest of the army. Although Jackson had been 
checked by Pleasanton's cavalry and three batteries of 
Sickles's, Clark's, Lewis' and Turnbull's, and a battery of 
horse artillery with only one regiment of infantry who had 
attacked the advancing enemy on the flank. It was not how- 
ever until the return of Birney's and Whipple's divisions, 
which formed a line of battle in rear of the artillery, that order 
was restored. While Pleasonton and Sickles, with three small 
regiments of cavalry and twenty-two guns loaded with double 
canister, were dealing destruction to the daring foe, Berry, who 
was in reserve near the Chancellor House, hurriedly formed 
a line in front of Jackson's advance, and, by the aid of his ar- 
tillery, who fired over the lines of his infantry, assisted largely 
in checking the enemy. The enemy still held the plank road 
in our now new front, covering the ground where our caisson 
bodies were left, and, being exposed on every side. General 
Birney formed his division into a square with Battery E in the 
centre and awaited events. 

In the meantime General Sickles now hastened to open 
communications with General Slocum on his right and with 
headquarters at Chancellorsville, with which he had not com- 
municated since five p. m. For this purpose he sent Assistant 
Adjutant-General Hart with an escort of cavalry, who by fol 
lowing a ravine succeeded in reaching headquarters safely. 
Hart conveyed a request from General Sickles to General 
Hooker to permit him to make a night attack upon his front 
to regain Whipple's ammunition, (mule) train and several 
guns and Randolph's caisson bodies which lay between him 
and the plank road. 

Hooker having consented and arrangements being made 
with Berry's division of the Third and Williams's division of 
the Twelfth corps for their support. General Birney was 
ordered to make the attack. Two lines were formed with 
Ward's brigade in front, and one hundred yards in the rear 
followed Hayman's brigade, all with guns uncapped and strict 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 65 

orders not to fire a musket until the plank road and earth- 
works were reached." To the left of these lines Colonel 
Eagan with the Fortieth New York, Seventeenth Maine and 
Sixty-third Pennsylvania, was ordered to move in connection 
with the main lines. Ward says in his report : " The ad- 
vance in the moonlight across the field was a brilliant sight. 
On arriving at the wood in which the enemy were lodged the 
command advanced most gallantly. They soon encountered 
the enemy in our old barricades, drove them out and occupied 
them, completely taking the enemy by surprise, who at once 
retired, permitting one of our batteries to advance up the 
plank road, but which in the darkness of the dense woods 
our troops took to be a battery of the enemy's and charged 
and captured it accordingly ; but on learning the mistake of 
course relinquished it. In the meantime the Fortieth New 
York and the Seventeenth Maine advancing up the road on 
the left, recaptured two field pieces and five caissons from 
the enemy, taken by them that afternoon. The enemy were 
so completely surprised that they immediately fell back, thus 
opening our communication with the main body." Although 
Battery E during this brilliant charge made no advance, it 
was, however, " in battery," with guns loaded with canister 
and with cannoneers and drivers at their posts. Being nearly 
surrounded, and knowing that if our lines were repulsed we 
should have a lively time, we accordingly made every prepa- 
ration for such a contingency, the fear of which was not les- 
sened by a remark of Captain Randolph, who said that " he 
thought we were good for Richmond this time." First Ser- 
geant Allen and Corporal Humphrey, who had not since the 
forenoon heard from the battery, found their comrades about 
midnight after a long search. They had previously heard 
that the battery was captured, and they were, of course, 
highly pleased to find the rumor was false After receiving 
instructions they returned to the caissons near the Chancel- 
lor House. It was while we were caged up here that Stone- 
wall Jackson was wounded and died eight days after of pneu- 
monia. He had ridden out near the plank road to recon- 
noitre, and returning he was said to have been shot by his 
own men, who mistook him for a Union scout. This, how- 
ever, is denied by historians of several regiments, who claim 
that their regiment fired the fatal shot, and among them is 



1 66 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

the First Massachusetts. It is not sure but his death served 
the Union cause more than the defeat of the Eleventh corps 
injured it, for what disaster would have befallen us had he 
lived cannot be known. During the night a new line of en- 
trenchments was thrown up across the plank road, about 
eleven hundred yards west of the Chancellor House, and 
about three hundred yards in rear of these field works for 
the artillery were erected. Behind these works Berry and 
Whipple, of the Third corps, were posted, Berry on the right 
of the road, Whipple in his rear. Williams's division of Slo- 
cum's corps was stationed on the left of the plank road, and 
at his left our lines formed an angle extending east, but 
curving inward until it reached the United States Ford, 
where it joined the Second corps. Meade and Howard cov- 
ered the Mineral Spring road to the river, and Reynolds, 
who had arrived from Fredericksburg, was stationed along 
Ely's Ford road, forming our right and protecting our line of 
retreat from the right. Geary joined Williams at the angle 
and extending east, with Birney in their rear ready to support 
either line forming the angle. By order of Captain Randolph, 
Captain Clark, chief of our division artillery, placed Jastram 
with his left and centre sections behind the field works at the 
left of the plank road directly in rear of Williams's division 
of the Twelfth corps. On our left was Captain Hampton's Bat- 
tery F, of Pennsylvania, with one or two other of the Twelfth 
corps batteries. Beyond these was Clark's Battery B of New 
Jersey ; on the right of the road was four pieces of Lieuten- 
ant Dimmick's First United States Battery H ; on his right 
Osborn's First New York Battery D ; Birney's division and 
Battery E occupying the right centre, near the angle upon 
which Jackson's forces hurled his victorious troops. The 
right and left wings of our army were so situated that they 
virtually rendered no assistance. Meade's corps was nearly 
as useless, so that the Second, Third, and Twelfth corps had 
to meet an equal force of elated troops, whose success the 
previous day had given them the prestige of victory. It was 
near daylight when Battery E and Birney's infantry left 
Hazel Grove to occupy these new lines. Having to pass 
through a ravine where the roads were in a bad condition, 
our progress was somewhat slow, but we all safely reached 
our position witli the exception of Graham's brigade and 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 67 

Huntington's First Ohio, Battery H,who were attacked, but 
they soon repulsed the enemy and assumed their positions. 
On our front lay Jackson's corps, now commanded by J. E. 
B. Stuart ; on our left flank Anderson's division lay in two 
lines of battle; on our east front McLaw's division lay across 
the old pike or plank road that leads to Fredericksburg. 

The Union army was now awaiting the onset of the enemy. 
The men of Battery E were preparing for breakfast, having 
built several fires from the debris of a partly demolished 
house near by ; some had succeeded in boiling their coffee, 
while others had scarcely commenced, when our attention 
being called by the rattle of musketry to the woods in our 
front not over five hundred yards away, we saw the enemy's 
skirmishers rapidly advancing through the woods in our front. 
Instantly the familiar voice of Lieutenant Jastram was heard 
ordering the cannoneers to their posts, which was promptly 
responded to by the men, although it caused a deferment of 
breakfast to a more convenient season, which the missiles of 
death prevented many from ever reaching. Almost immedi- 
ately the rebels advanced in heavy columns, attacking the 
divisions of Williams and Berry, which attacks were met by 
Williams and the gallant Berry with equal valor, but after a 
stubborn resistance the troops of Williams gave way and 
were driven back, this being caused mainly by the giving way 
of the Third Maryland regiment of raw troops. Into this gap 
the enemy rushed rapidly, thus taking both Williams and 
Berry in reverse. Berry sent Mott's brigade to fill the gap, 
and then commenced a desperate hand-to-hand struggle, in 
which our troops were triumphant, recapturing the lost 
ground and taking nearly a thousand prisoners and eight bat- 
tle flags. In no slight degree was this success due to Jas- 
tram's and other batteries, who hurled their shot and shell into 
the ranks of the charging enemy. Two brigades of the 
enemy had, in the meantime, attacked Berry on the north of 
the pike, but they were severely handled by Berry's veterans 
and driven back in confusion. Again they appeared with re- 
newed energy, and for a moment gained possession of our 
works, but were again driven back to their first position. 
The struggle between Berry's veterans and Jackson's was 
terrible, but Berry held on tenaciously, as was his custom. 
Ward's brigade having been sent to reinforce him, but failed 



1 68 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

to reach him. The enemy being reinforced, the contest con- 
tinued with no abatement, the artillery continuing the terri- 
ble discharges of shell and shrapnel. The enemy was now 
nearly out of ammunition but Stuart stubbornly ordered 
them to hold on with the bayonet, and so determined was 
Jackson's troops that Sickles says m his report they " pressed 
forward in crowds rather than in any regular formation." 

Again the enemy received reinforcements, this time three 
brigades who resisted the flank attack of Berry's troops. It 
was about seven o'clock but no cessation of the ter- 
rible contest in our front was visible. The line had wavered 
to and fro for two hours, nearly every brigade being engaged 
or holding important positions which could not be neglected, 
although there were two full corps who had not fired a shot. 
The vigilant Sickles and sturdy Slocum who had thus far 
done most of the fighting, having no voice in their control had 
only to continue the struggle as best they could. The re- 
inforced rebels now renewed the contest, determined, if possi- 
ble, to capture and hold the breastworks which they had 
twice taken and lost. In meeting this contest the gallant 
Berry fell mortally wounded and no greater misfortune could 
have fallen the division, as by his death we doubtless lost the 
position which he had so gallantly defended. General Revere 
now assumed command and almost immediately led nearly 
half of the division to the rear, for which he was relieved at 
once and Colonel Stevens put in command, but he soon fell 
leaving the division for a while without a leader. General 
Hays with his brigade from the Second corps who had arrived 
to the assistance of Berr\' was about the same time wounded 
and captured. Seeing the deplorable condition of Berry's 
division the enemy advanced and forced back the remain- 
ing portion of the division to the line where the artillery was 
stationed behind the field works. Williams, who was now 
nearly out of ammunition, although stoutly supported by 
Graham's brigade, being also flanked b}' the retirement of 
Berry's division, was also obliged to fall back in line with 
Berry's division which was now in command of General Carr. 
While this contest with Jackson's corps was going on Geary's 
division of the Twelfth corps, which was stationed near the 
angle at our left, although not seriously engaged, was sub- 
jected as we had been to a severe shelling from thirty pieces 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 69 

of artillery, stationed at Hazel Grove. While Berry's divi- 
sion was stubbornly retiring before the enemy towards the 
line of artillery, of which we formed a part, we being nearly 
out of ammunition and taken in reverse by the enemy who 
were advancing through the wood on our right, were ordered 
to retire to the rear of the Chancellor House. The breast- 
works after being vacated by the artillery were almost im- 
mediately occupied by the enemy, but no sooner were they 
there than Colonel Sewell advanced with the Third brigade 
of the Second division and drove them out, immediately tak- 
ing possession of and using them as a front line to a new 
position. Sickles in his report says : " The artillery retired 
towards Chancellorsville and took a new position. The in- 
fantry was then reformed under my own supervision and while 
being supplied with ammunition took up a second position on 
the plain in rear of Fairview, the front line occupying the 
artillery breastworks. 

It was nearly nine a. m. when these lines were reformed. 
We had doubtless inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy. 
Sickles continuing says : "Their formation for attack was 
entirely broken up, and from my headquarters they presented 
to the eye the appearance of a crowd without definite forma- 
tion, and if another corps had been available at the moment 
to have relieved me, or even to have supported me, my judg- 
ment was that not only would that attack of the enemy have 
been triumphantly repulsed, but that we could have advanced 
on them and carried the day." 

Although Sickles had looked in vain for reinforcements 
and was being hard pushed by the enemy, he nevertheless con- 
tinued the contest for the possession of Chancellorsville Clear- 
ing. Bravely and persistently did Franklin's and Mott's brig- 
ades struggle against the assaults of the exultant foe, and 
Sickles now finding himself without support on his right or 
left, was obliged to fall back to Chancellorsville. Here let 
Sickles testify. " Finally retiring to Chancellorsville I re- 
formed in three lines on the right of Major-General Hancock 
of Couch's corps, Lewis's battery, four pieces of Seeley's, and 
a section of Randolph's under Lieutenant Bucklyn took posi- 
tion about half way between Chancellorsville and Fairview, 
and although exposed to a terrible fire were effectively served 
until not a round of ammunition was left. The severe loss of 



170 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

men and horses now rendered the withdrawal of my batteries 
imperative." Chief of Division Clark further testifies : 
" Shortly after this the line of support commenced fall- 
ing back, and, by order of General Birney, Jastram's bat- 
tery was withdrawn from its position. A section of this bat- 
tery under Lieutenant Bucklyn was, by order of Captain 
Randolph, placed in a position near the Chancellorsville 
House, with four guns of Seeley's battery (K, Fourth United 
States) to check the advance of the enemy as our line fell 
back to its new position. Here they gallantly maintained 
their position under a terrible fire, until their ammunition was 
exhausted. Many cannoneers had been killed and wounded 
and most of their horses killed. One gun could not be re- 
moved but was disabled by an axe before it was left." 

The axe was in the hands of Corporal Chandler of the fifth 
detachment who had been detailed to serve as gunner on the 
sixth piece. Corporal Battey, its only non-commissioned offi- 
cer at that time, was absent in charge of the officers' wagon. 

In order to check the enemy's advance while our troops 
were being placed in their new position Captain Randolph 
says : " Lieutenant Lewis, of the Tenth New York battery, 
was placed in battery near and to the left of Chancellors- 
ville, four pieces of Seeley's (K, Fourth United States Artill- 
ery) to the left of the plank road, about half way from Chan- 
cellorsville to Fairview, and two of Randolph's under Lieu- 
tenant Bucklyn on the road on the same line." These batteries 
were severely handled by the advancing foe. They had also 
planted batteries upon slightly elevated ground in front of our 
breastworks from which they severely shelled these batteries 
causing a great loss. Long range batteries were also throw- 
ing their unwelcome shots from Hazel Grove, half a mile 
away to the left. Randolph in his report continues : " These 
pieces were exposed to a terrible fire, but were gallantly and 
very effectively served until every round of ammunition was 
expended. The section of Randolph's had not previously been 
engaged." The word " not " should be omitted. Continuing, 
he says : "A large number of men and horses were killed 
and their withdrawal rendered necessary. The loss of horses 
in the sections of Randolph's had been so great as to compel 
Lieutenant Bucklyn to remove one piece by hand and abandon 
the other. He had onlv horses enough, after dismounting his 



1863.] FIRST R.I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I7I 

sergeants, to draw one piece. The abandoned piece was dis- 
abled before being left. Lieutenant Seeley, whose loss was 
as heavy, succeeded in removing his entire battery, having 
more horses. To prevent any injustice to Lieutenant Buck- 
lyn, I call attention to the fact that while Lieutenant Seeley 
had four pieces and four caissons, with complete teams, Lieu- 
tenant Bucklyn had but two pieces and no caissons, and 
therefore could not, as did Seeley, draw his piece by reduc- 
ing his caisson team. His section was on the road and his 
loss proportionately greater even than Seeley's. He deserves 
very great credit, however, in saving his battery entire, after 
such losses of men and horses as he had suffered." 

The right section under Lieutenant Freeborn had not been 
in the morning's engagement, but had been left near the 
Chancellor House. He had, however, twice brought his sec- 
tion forward to join the other pieces, but for want of room 
Lieutenant Jastram sent him again to the rear, and, as his 
section was in the way of other troops, he was sent still fur- 
ther away by some officer in that locality. 

When the battery was retiring from the breastworks, the 
writer, in assisting a severely wounded comrade from the 
field, became temporarily absent from the battery and there- 
fore was not present when his section was ordered to retire. 

A letter received in after years from an officer who was 
present states that " Lieutenant Bucklyn, although one of 
the sections had been engaged less than his, was ordered by 
Captain Randolph to return up the road in face of the enemy 
and check the advance. Lieutenant Bucklyn remarked, 
'whoever goes up there will not live to return.' Captain 
Randolph replied, 'T think likely they will not ; I must have 
some one who will stay.' Lieutenant Bucklyn called for vol- 
unteers and every man of his section volunteered although 
believing he was going to certain death." 

Had Freeborn's section been present Lieutenant Jastram 
would have favored its return instead of Bucklyn's, and his 
men would have faced the danger with equal valor. 

As this section had previously lost several men wounded, 
a detail from the other sections had been necessary to fill the 
required number. One of those detailed was Amasa A. Dar- 
ling, of the third detachment, and was one of the unfor- 
tunates, being severely wounded in the foot, which probably 



172 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

hastened his death,. Besides the piece referred to in Ran- 
dolph's report as being abandoned, one caisson was lost by 
being overturned during the night of the 2d. The caisson 
bodies captured by Jackson's troops were recaptured by Bir- 
ney's midnight charge. The caissons saved by Corp. George 
Humphrey rejoined the battery at the commencement of the 
battle at Fairview Sunday morning. The officers' light 
wagon, which was in the charge of Corporal Battey, was by 
some means separated from the battery and did not rejoin it 
until it had recrossed the river. 

As to the fierceness of this morning's artillery engage- 
ment, let Captain Randolph testify : "Now began the hardest 
battle it has been my fate to witness. The five batteries 
were admirably posted and admirably served. Never had 
artillery a finer opportunity to do good service, and never 
was a better use made of favorable circumstances. Twice 
the columns of the enemy on the plank road were repulsed 
by the concentration of the fire from this line of batteries. 
The loss of the enemy must have been very heavy from this 
fire, and I am of the opinion that with a constant supply of 
ammunition and the woods held to the right of the road, 
this line of batteries could have defied the enemy's attack." 

A short time previous to retiring of the Third corps infan- 
try from the Fairview clearing, General Hooker was still at 
his place on the porch of the Chancellor House, when a can- 
non-shot struck the pillar against which he was leaning and 
knocked him down. It was at first thought he was killed. 
General Couch, who was ne.xt in command, says : " I was at 
the time but a few yards to his left, and, dismounting, ran to 
the porch. The shattered pillar was there, but I could not 
find him or any one else. Hurrying through the house, and 
finding no one, my search was continued through the back 
yard, all the time thinking 'If he is killed what shall I do 
with the disjointed army .' ' Passing through the yard I came 
upon him to my great joy, mounted, and with his staff also 
in their saddles. Briefly congratulating him on his escape 
(it was no time to blubber or use soft expressions) I went 
about my own business. This was the last I saw of my com- 
manding general in front." 

After Couch assumed temporary command there was some 
sharp fighting by General Geary's and Hancock's divisions. 



j863.] first R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I 73 

who were being pushed by General Anderson and McLaws 
from the south and east of the Chancellor House. It was 
during these engagements that the Fifth Maine Battery- 
was stationed in rear of the Chancellor House and lost 
forty-three of its horses. The guns were drawn off by hand 
by Meagher's Irish brigade. Captain Leppien was mortally 
wounded, and Lieutenants Stevens and Twitchell were se- 
verely wounded. Lieutenant E. Kirby, who was in tempo- 
rary command, was also wounded ; six men were killed and 
nineteen wounded. This was the battery that fought so 
bravely at our left at Fredericksburg. It belonged to the 
First corps. 

Hooker late on the afternoon of the 2d sent an order to 
General Sedgwick, who was in command of the Sixth corps 
at Fredericksburg, to "take up his line of march on the 
Chancellorsville road and attack and destroy any forces he 
might meet," and added, that "he (Sedgwick) would prob- 
ably fall upon the rear of Lee's forces and between them 
they would use Lee up." Sedgwick was ordered to be in 
the rear of Lee's army by daylight the next morning, but 
having to capture Fredericksburg on his way and being con- 
stantly attacked at every move thereafter, he was not able to 
comply with the orders in time to render any service at the 
time it was needed. In fact, he was only permitted to reach 
the vicinity of Banks's Ford where he was attacked by Ander- 
son's and McLaw's divisions, which had been detached from 
Hooker's front late on the afternoon of May 3d for that pur- 
pose. During the 4th, receiving no assistance from Hooker, 
and after a hard-fought battle with the enemy, who were in 
position upon his front, rear, and flank, Sedgwick retreated 
across the Rappahannock at Banks's .Ford. He captured five 
battle flags and fifteen pieces of artillery, bringing off nine 
and fourteen hundred prisoners. His loss was severe. 

After the army retired from Fairview Sunday noon, it took 
up a position along two roads, one extending from the White 
House in a northwest course to Ely's Ford, the other running 
northeast from the same point along the Mineral Spring road, 
crossing the Mine road and continuing to a point on the river 
about one mile below the United States Ford, its general 
form being somewhat like a V, or as Birney defined it, "a 
flattened cone." On the right fork of this line for two miles 



174 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Maj, 

lay Reynolds's corps. At the apex lay Sickles and Couch. 
On the left branch of this line joining Couch was Slocum's 
Twelfth corps. From his left to the river lay Howard, his 
left resting on an inward bend of the Rappahannock, a dis- 
tance of over two miles from the apex. Midway between 
these lines lay the road that runs to the United States Ford, 
in the protection of which rested the safety of the Army of the 
Potomac. For two days 60,000 men lay idle in this impreg- 
nable position, in whose front was only Jackson's corps of 
about 18,000 men. 

Shortly after Battery E left the breastworks' (after a tem- 
porary halt near the Chancellor House) the right and centre 
sections moved per order slowly towards the United States 
Ford, reaching there early in the afternoon, and immediately 
refilled their empty ammunition chests. The left section 
soon after its second engagement rejoined the others near 
the ford. 

We lay at the ford until the 5th when, in company with 
other troops, we started on our return to our old camps, but 
before reaching them we were overtaken by a thunder storm 
accompanied by a heavy fall of hailstones. We arrived in 
camp just before sunset, thoroughly wet by the severe shower. 
Owing to the great fatigue of some, and an effort to escape 
the storm by others, quite a number of the men did not reach 
camp until the next morning. During the night of the 5th 
the entire army recrossed the river unmolested and reoccupied 
their old camp the next day. 

The official loss in the battery was two killed, thirteen 
wounded and two missing. The killed were Elisha E. Potter 
and John Zinn. Potter was a driver in the sixth detachment, 
and was shot in the head at the time of the return of the left 
section. Zinn belonged to the third detachment and was 
shot through the bowels and died in the arms of Sergeant 
Hargraves, who made an ineffectual effort to carry his body 
to the rear. It was said he had sixty dollars about his body 
which was left for want of time to find it. The wounded were 
Corp. James A. Tanner, third detachment, in the thigh slightly ; 
Michael Rhul, William McCommick and John Earl of the 
same detachment, slightly ; James Sterling, fifth detachment, 
severely in arm and breast ; Charles S. Huling, Charles H. 
Bogman, and George Lewis of the fifth detachment ; Martin 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 75 

Harvey, James McRoy, and Charles Moore, the latter severely 
and dying from its effects July 2d. Amasa A. Darling before 
referred to, was severely wounded. Two or three detailed men 
whose names are not remembered were slightly wounded. 
Sergt. George \V. H. Allen had a narrow escape from a Minie ball 
which carried away his cap, grazing the top of his head. He had 
just at that mom.ent dismounted from his horse, which possibly 
may have saved him from a more serious wound. Our loss in 
horses was twenty-four, not including the two lost b}' Captain 
Randolph. One of the horses of Randolph's was killed while 
Randolph was giving orders on the clearing at Chancellors- 
ville, a cannon ball striking it in the rear and passing directly 
through it, coming out at the breast and killing it instantly. 
It was a valuable animal, being highly prized, and one that 
Captain Randolph had ridden almost from the formation of 
the battery. The other horse fell or was crowded from an 
embankment while traveling along the road running from the 
United States Ford to Chancellorsville. 

Lieutenant Jastram also lost his horse by capture, which 
occurred during the evening after the battery had returned 
from the Furnace. Desiring to rest, he dismounted and 
turned his horse over to James Fitzpatrick to hold. Fitz- 
patrick had previously left his coat upon one of the caissons 
which had been left near the plank road, where we first halted 
in the morning. Not knowing that the rebels had captured 
that position he asked and obtained Jastrara's consent to take 
the horse and go after his coat. He started and rode up the 
path leading to the caissons, when the rebels suddenly ap- 
peared and captured both. Captain Randolph and Lieuten- 
ant Bucklyn had also started to reach the caissons, and were 
not far behind Fitzpatrick, but seeing his capture they hastily 
changed their course and were soon out of danger. 

John Jordan was the only deserter during this battle, from 
the battery. He said in after years that he received a pre- 
monition that he would be killed if he went into the fight, 
hence his desertion. He crossed the river and made his es- 
cape. He was kind-hearted but unbalanced. 

By May 7th the whole army was again re-established in 
their old camps, minus the number indicated by the following 
figures. The loss of the Union army in this battle including 
its outpost skirmishers and cavalry raids was 17,287. 



176 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

The loss of the First corps was only 135 ; that of the Fifth 
corps, 700 ; the Second, 1,925 ; the Eleventh corps, 2,412 ; the 
Twelfth corps, 2,822 ; the Sixth, 4,590 ; the Third corps, 4,1 19. 
The remaining loss of 618 was in detatched bodies and the 
cavalry. The Sixth corps lost the greatest number, but the 
Third corps being one-quarter smaller, lost a much larger per- 
centage. Birney's division, as usual, lost heavily, the num- 
ber being 1,607. Berry's (Second) division also suffered 
severely, losing 1,429. The loss of Whipple's division was 
1,082. The division being much smaller its percentage of 
loss was equal if not greater than either of the others. The 
artillery of the Third corps also suffered severely, losing 152 
out of a total of 417 in the whole artillery. The Third corps 
lost two of its division commanders. Berry and Whipple. 
Berry was shot about 7 a. m., Sunday morning, and died a 
half hour later. His command fell upon General Carr. 
Whipple was mortally wounded on the morning of the 4th, 
dying tour days after. General Graham became his succes- 
sor. General Mott was also wounded. Rhode Island was 
represented in this battle by the Second regiment. Batteries 
A, B, C, E, and G, and the First Rhode Island Cavalry. The 
Second regiment lost 81 ; Battery C, 8, and Battery G, 23; 
cavalry, 5. 




John K. Bticklyn, 

1st Lieut. Comtnanding ; 

Capt. in 1st Regt. R. I. Light Artillery, 

January Ilth, 1S65. 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 77 



M 



CHAPTER XVI. 

May— June— July— 1863, 
Campaign of Gettysburg. 

AY 6th and 7th found lis busy in remodeling our 
camp, although sad and weary from the effect of 
another unsuccessful battle. May 9th, twenty men 
were detached to us from the infantry, whose names are un- 
certain. We also drew ten new horses to replace those killed. 
Sergt. George W. H, Allen started for Washington after a 
new gun to replace the one lost in battle. May nth the 
corps was reviewed by General Sickles and staff. Sergeant 
Allen arrived with the new gun and caisson, taking his place 
in the battery while on review. 

May 14th, James Stirling, Amasa A. Darling and Martin 
Harvey started for Rhode Island having received furloughs 
on account of wounds, the former for thirty and the two lat- 
ter for twenty days. 

May 15th, Lieutenant Jastram was appointed acting assist- 
ant adjutant-general on Captain Randolph's staff. He had 
commanded the battery since Dec. 12, 1862, with great credit 
to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his superior officers, 
and the men of his command. It was with unfeigned regret 
that we saw him depart from us. Although sometimes seem- 
ing nervous, a condition necessarily belonging to a zealous and 
ardent temperament like his, he nevertheless was one of the 
best and most considerate of commanders. He carried with 
him the best wishes of his men and brother officers for con- 
tinued success in his new and responsible position. From 
what we had known of the past history of Lieutenant Bucklyn, 
who succeeded Jastram in command, we had every reason to 
believe that the battery would continue to maintain its high 
reputation. How well he succeeded the future pages of this 
history will reveal. 
12 



1 78 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

May 2 1 St, Corp. Herbert F. Bennett and Private Charles 
H. Bogman were granted furloughs, the latter on account of 
wounds, the former on account of sickness. 

May 22d, Lieutenant Israel R. Sheldon resigned and took 
his departure for home. He had served in the battery since 
Jan. 31, 1862. Although not a biilliant officer, he performed 
his part with a conscientious fidelity to his conceptions of 
duty. The respect for Lieutenant Sheldon among the en- 
listed men was universal and sincere. His amiable disposi- 
tion and gentlemanly demeanor will cause them always to 
hold him in high respect and esteem. George H. Burling- 
ham was dropped from the company's roll as a deserter. 

May 25th, our theatre performances were resumed, the 
building in which the plays were acted having been improved 
since the battle and some additional talent secured from 
infantry regiments adjoining us. The attendance from the 
surrounding regiments and corps headquarters was large and 
the entertainment was greatly enjoyed by all. During these 
pleasant May evenings every kind of amusement obtainable 
was sought, and it helped us greatly in passing the long, 
weary hours while waiting for more active duties. 

May 27th, 456 meritorious and brave soldiers in Birney's 
division received the Kearny medal. A full account of the 
presentation can be found in the Appendix, which was kindly 
furnished the author by General Sickles. The men present 
from Battery E receiving the medals were Albert N. Cohvell, 
William Torpy and John McAlees. Martin Harvey, who had 
been selected by the company to receive one of the medals, 
was absent on a furlough. When he applied to his command- 
ing officer for his medal it could not be found. Subsequently 
it was replaced by a duplicate. Richard Russell also received 
one of these medals, which was given him later, either by 
Captain Randolph or Lieutenant Bucklyn. Russell was one of 
the bravest of soldiers, whose coolness and enthusiasm in bat- 
tle, says his corporal, "greatly inspired his comrades." He 
never lost a day by sickness during the entire service of the 
battery. 

Reference to their selection will be found under date of 
March 24, 1863. May 29th, there was another performance 
at the theatre. The play this time was more in the line of a 
negro minstrel show. At least one thousand persons were 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 79 

present, including many officers in the several brigades of 
Birney's division. Second Corp. Edward A. Chandler, of the 
fifth detachment, was promoted to gunner of the sixth piece, 
the vacancy in the fifth detachment being filled by private 
George Lewis. 

During the month of May our usual drills had been con- 
tinued. Many of the tents were covered with pine boughs to 
protect the inmates from the heat, the officers' quarters in 
addition having ornamental arches of the same material, giv- 
ing to the camp a home-like appearance. Since the depart- 
ure of Lieutenant Sheldon we had but two commissioned 
officers, Sergts. J. F. Allen and Winslow serving as such for 
several days. 

On June 4th, James S. Campbell started for home having 
been discharged on surgeon's certificate. He was a very 
worthy man, but too old to be a soldier. C. H. Bogman re- 
turned from his furlough. The Thirty-seventh and Thirty- 
eighth New York regiments started for home, their term of 
service having expired. These regiments had long been 
associated with our battery. June 5th, there were indications 
of a movement by the enemy. A part of the Eighth corps 
crossed on pontoons to feel the enemy, and orders were re- 
ceived to be ready to move at short notice. An extract from 
an order read in line is as follows : " One half shelter 
tent, one blanket for each cannoneer, one great coat for each 
driver, one jacket, one blouse, one pair trousers, three pair 
stockings, two pair drawers, two flannel shirts, one pair shoes 
or boots." May 6th, we turned in all surplus to comply with 
the order read the day previous. First Sergt. James F. Allen 
having received a commission, dated June ist, was assigned 
to the left section. 

June 7th, Sunday inspection, after which Sergt. Charles S. 
Winslow was promoted to first sergeant, vice J. F. Allen 
promoted. Sergt. Wm. Millen was ordered on detached ser- 
vice at Third corps artillery brigade headquarters, as ord- 
nance sergeant. Millen was one of the oldest and most 
trusted sergeants from the formation of the battery, and a 
loyal and patriotic soldier. It would have pleased his friends 
had he been promoted to first sergeant, but a more desirable 
position was offered him, and he wisely accepted it. He as- 
sumed the duties of his new position with the best wishes of 



l8o HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Jui^e^, 

his old comrades, with whom he had serv^ed so long and well. 
Corporal Beard took charge of Millen's detachment. 

June 9th, field drill by Lieutenant Bucklyn, commanding. 
June loth, Corp. George Humphrey, of the third detach- 
ment, was promoted to sergeant, and assigned to the Second 
detachment, vice Winslow promoted to first sergeant. This 
was an excellent and well-deServed promotion. Humphrey, 
although unassuming and modest, was one of our best-drilled 
non-commissioned officers. Perhaps no man in the company 
possessed more of the qualities of a true gentleman. His 
promotion was commended by all of his comrades as being an 
honor to himself and giving to his commander the credit of a 
wise selection. 

In the evening we had one more play in the theatre. As 
it was expected to be the last, every effort was made to make 
it a success. 

General Lee had begun to move his army from our front on 
the 3d. This had caused Hooker to be on the alert, and 
every preparation was being made to ascertain the purpose of 
Lee. Orders had been given to the army to be prepared to 
move at short notice. Many of the weak commands had 
been consolidated with others. The Third division [Whip- 
ple's] of the Third corps had been consolidated with the other 
two, the First commanded by Birney, the Second by Gen. 
Andrew A. Humphreys. The brigades of Birney's division 
were commanded (First) by General Graham, (Second) Gen- 
eral Ward, and (Third) Col. Philip Regis de Trobriand. The 
artillery brigade of the Third corps was commanded by Capt. 
George E. Randolph, and consisted of the following batteries, 
namely. New Jersey Second battery, Capt. A. Judson Clark ; 
First New York, Battery D, Capt. George B. Winslow ; New 
York Fourth Battery, Capt. James E. Smith ; First Rhode 
Island, Battery E, Lieut. John K. Bucklyn ; Fourth United 
States Battery K, Lieut. F. W. Seeley. General Hancock 
assumed command of the Second corps on the 22d of May, 
relieving General Couch. General Pleasanton succeeded 
Stoneman on same date, as commander of the cavalry. 

On the 30th of May General Lee had reorganized his army 
into three corps, the First under Longstreet, the Second 
under General Ewell, and the Third under Gen. A. P. Hill. 



1863.] FIRST R. :I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 181 

June nth. Lee's cavalry had ah-eady reached the Shen- 
andoah Valley, followed by the infantry on the next day. 
While this was taking place, Lieutenant Bucklyn was having 
a field drill, but it was of short duration, as at ten a. m. 
orders came to be ready to move in one hour. Such hasty 
orders necessarily caused more or less commotion ; grain and 
rations must be put upon the caissons, quartermaster's stores 
had to be looked after, horses must at once be harnessed and 
hitched up, tents lowered and packed, officers' quarters dis- 
posed of, and besides all this, every man had his personal 
effects to pack up, his haversack and canteen to fill, and 
usually rations of sugar and coffee were to be dealt out in 
line, every man taking his turn ; the picket rope had to be 
taken down — these and other minor matters had to be at- 
tended to, usually under pressure from the officers, high and 
low, to hurry up, — this, with the fretting of the irritated men 
and sometimes with no little swearing, causing a scene more 
comical than agreeable. The act having been played the 
curtain of forgetfulness soon hides it from our view, and all 
again is quiet. On the present occasion the scene was 
unusually lively, and although ready on time, it was not until 
three p. m. that we, in company with the Third corps, moved 
from our camp. It was not until eleven p. m. that we halted 
near Hartwood Church, a distance of fifteen miles. On June 
1 2th we marched to within one mile of the Rappahannock, 
near Bealton Station, on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, 
and parked about five p. m. June 13th, about noon, we went 
south two miles and encamped near the railroad. During 
the evening the right and centre sections went down to the 
river on picket and went into battery between the Rappa- 
hannock and Beverly Fords. 

June 14th. Hitched up at daylight and moved back to 
Bealton Station, and waited until the absent sections re- 
turned, which was not until 1.30 the next morning. We then 
resumed our march and halted at Cedar Run, near Bristoe, 
at sunrise. Here we unhitched and fed our horses, and at 
nine a. m. resumed our march, passing through Bristoe Sta- 
tion to Manassas Junction, arriving just before night, then' 
having to go two miles to water our horses. The weather 
was very hot and sultry, causing many sunstrokes in the 
regiments. 



1 82 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

June 1 6th. Battery E and the corps remained at Manas- 
sas all day. The news that Lee's cavalry had reached 
Pennsylvania caused us some alarm. 

June 17th. Moved with the corps to Centreville, reaching 
there at two p. m., where we remained until the 19th. On that 
date we moved at ten a. m. and marched to near Gum Springs. 
During the evening the darkness was so dense that guards 
had to be stationed at every corner and place of danger. We 
arrived at ten p. m., thoroughly wet by heavy showers. Here 
we remained through the 20th. 

June 2 1 St. We changed our camp to about one mile west. 
General Pleasanton's cavalry and one division of the Fifth 
corps had a sharp encounter at Aldie, about five miles to our 
left. The rebels were driven back to Ashby's Gap, in the 
Blue Ridge. 

We remained here until the 25th. In the meantime we 
had one field drill. 

June 25th. We moved from camp at seven a. m., and 
crossed the Loudon & Alexandria Railroad at Farmwell Sta- 
tion, six miles southeast of Leesburg ; we then moved north 
through Frankville and Belmont to Edward's Ferry, crossed 
the ferry into Maryland about the middle of the forenoon. 
We passed to the left of Poolesville and marched to within 
two miles of the Monocacy River, reaching there at seven 
A. M. in a drenching rain. This had been the longest march 
since leaving Boscobel, near Falmouth. 

June 26th. We left camp at six a. m. in the rain, crossed 
the Monocacy at its junction with the Potomac and marched 
through Lockville to Point of Rocks and encamped. 

June 27th. Left Point of Rocks at eleven a. m., passed 
through the town of Jefferson to near Middletown. We 
were now passing through a splendid country, where the peo- 
ple seemed loyal, and for the first time since leaving home 
we seemed to be among friends. 

Sunday, June 28th, we left camp at eleven a. m., passed 
through Middletown on to Frederick, reaching there at noon. 
Passing through the city, we halted one mile beyond at 
Wyman's Mills, until five p. m., and then resumed our march 
to Walkerville, a small village four miles north of Frederick. 
Through these small villages, says De Trobriand, " we 
marched by column of companies, music at the head and 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 8 



3 



flags flying. The national colors were in all the windows, 
cheers saluted our passage. 

"At Frederick our march was almost triumphal. All the 
houses were draped, all the women were at the windows 
waving their handkerchiefs, all the men were at the doors 
waving their hats." To this may be added that young ladies 
were stationed by the roadside and upon piazzas cheering 
us with vocal music, and bouquets were handed by young 
girls to the officers with their wishes for good luck. That 
these manifestations and loyal greetings gave to the troops 
an inspiring hope and courage hitherto unknown, no one who 
witnessed them will ever deny. 

At Frederick, General Sickles, who had been absent sev- 
eral weeks, resumed command, relieving General Birney. At 
the time of Sickles's arrival the First corps was marching 
from Middletown to Frederick ; the Second from Barnsville 
to Monocacy Junction ; the Fifth lay at Ballinger's Creek ; 
the Third was marching from Middletown to Woodsborough ; 
the Sixth from near Poolesville to Hyattstown ; the Eleventh 
from Middletown to near Frederick, and the Twelfth from 
Knoxville to Frederick. Two-thirds of the rebel army was 
now at and near Chambersburg, while Ewell's corps was 
already marching upon Harrisburg, reaching Carlisle on the 
27th. From Carlisle General Ewell sent forward Jenkins's 
cavalry to reconnoitre the defences of Harrisburg, and was 
starting on the 29th for that place with his corps when General 
Lee, learning that the Federal army was rapidly approaching, 
ordered his return to Cashtown, near Gettysburg. The same 
day General Early occupied York. A portion of his com- 
mand was sent forward to Wrightsville, where a bridge spans 
the Susquehanna, one and a quarter miles long. The bridge 
was defended by a force of militia, who, being unable to cope 
with the veterans of General Gordon, set fire to the bridge 
and retreated across the river. The rebels were now in a 
rich and fertile country, and were not slow in supplying them- 
selves from its well-filled storehouses and granaries. Thou- 
sands of cattle and many horses were secured, and heavy 
requisitions were made for supplies of sugar, coffee, flour, 
bacon, salt, onions, shoes, and hats. In addition to this, 
demands were made upon the authorities of the larger towns 
for a larg-e amount of cash. Long trains of cars were filled 



184 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

wilh these bounteous supplies and sent back for the use of 
their army. It was at this juncture, when the two armies 
were concentrating for the terrible struggle about to take 
place at Gettysburg, that General Hardie, chief of staff of the 
secretary of war, reached Frederick, and, after much trouble, 
secured a buggy and driver, and after riding for several miles 
reached General Meade's headquarters. Rousing the general 
from a sound sleep he handed to him an order which read as 
follows : 

War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, ) 
Washington, June 27th, 1863. i 

General Orders, No, ig-f.. 

Bj' direction of the President, Major-General Hooker is relieved from 
command of tlie Army of the Potomac and Major-General George G. 
Meade is appointed to the command of that army, and of the troops tem- 
porarily assigned to duty with it. 

By order of the Secretary of War, 

E. D. Townsend. 

Assistant Adjutant-General. 

General Meade was very much surprised at his appoint- 
ment, and after realizing for a minute the situation seemed 
to be much agitated, and expressed a desire that the appoint- 
ment should be given to General Reynolds, but being as- 
sured by General Hardie that the order was imperative, and 
that the situation would permit no further delay, he at once 
accepted the unwelcome task. Horses were then procured, 
and with an escort the party proceeded to General Hooker's 
headquarters, some miles distant, which they reached at a 
very early hour the next morning. 

General Hooker, who had the day before asked to be re- 
lieved, on seeing who his visitors were, at once divined the 
object of their coming. After the usual formalities of friend- 
ship. General Butterfield, Hooker's chief of staff, was called 
in and the four officers at once proceeded to make the neces- 
sary transfers, which were completed during the afternoon. 
A confidential officer at headquarters says : " In the evening, 
standing in front of the commanding general's tent. General 
Hooker took leave of the officers, soldiers and civilians at- 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 85 

tached to headqaarters, and amid many a ' God bless you, 
general,' got into the spring wagon that was to convey him 
and General Hardie to the railroad station, the former en 
route to Baltimore, the latter to Washington. When all was 
ready for the start the throng about the vehicle respectfully 
drew back as Meade approached with uncovered head. The 
two men took each other by the hand, some words passed be- 
tween them in a low tone, the wagon moved off and Meade 
walked silently into the tent just vacated by his predecessor." 
General Meade accepted the command in an order which 
read as follows, viz. : 

HEADqUARTERS ArMY OF THE POTOMAC, \ 

June 28, 1863. / 

General Orders, No 6j. 

By direction of the President of tlie United States, I hereby jv.ssume com- 
mand of the Army of the Potomac. As a soldier, in obe^'ing this order, an 
order totally unexpected and unsolicited, I have no promises or pledges 
to make. The country looks to this army to relieve it from the devasta- 
tions and disgrace of a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacri- 
fices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the 
magnitude of the interests involved, and let each man determine to do 
his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providence the decision of the 
contest. 

It is with just ditlidence that I relieve in the command of this army an 
eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear con- 
spicuous in the history of its achievements; but I rely upon the hearty 
support of my companions in arms to assist me in the discharge of the 
duties of the important trust which has been confided to me. 

George G. Meade, 

Major-General Commanding. 

General Hooker, in an order of the same date relinquish- 
ing the command of the army to Meade, says : 

" I transfer the command to Maj.-Gen. George G. Meade, a brave and 
accomplished officer, who has nobly earned the confidence and esteem 
of this army on many a well-fought field. . . . The sorrow of parting 
with the comrades of so many battles is relieved by the conviction that 
the courage and devotion of this armj' will never cease nor fail; that it 
will yield to my successor, as it has to me, a willing and hearty support. 
With the earnest prayer that the triumphs of its arms may bring suc- 
cesses worthy of it and the Nation, I bid it farewell. 

Joseph Hooker, 

Major- General. " 



1 86 HISTORY OF BATTERY F., [June, 

The news of Hooker's removal was received by the army 
with great astonishment. That it should take place on the 
eve of an expected battle made it still more of a mystery. 
But then the rank and file had not seen behind the curtain, 
but to those who had it was not so much of a surprise. 
Hooker had in this movement thus far handled his army with 
success. The causes which led to his removal dated even 
back of his appointment. The loss of the battle of Chan- 
cellorsville had made him no friends. Halleck, if ever 
friendly, was less so now, and in the correspondence between 
him and Hooker there had always been a shadow of discord. 
Just previous to his removal Hooker had insisted that the 
force of ten thousand men under General French at Harper's 
Ferry should be added to his. To this Halleck would not 
consent. After further correspondence, Hooker receiving no 
concessions, sent the following dispatch, viz. : 

" Sandy Hook, June 27, 1S63. 

Maj.-Gen. H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief : 

My original instructions required me to cover Harper's Ferrv and 
Washington. I have now imposed upon me in addition an enemy in my 
front of more than my numbers. I beg to be understood, respectfully 
but firmly, that I am unable to comply with this condition with the means 
at my disposal, and earnestly request that J may at once be relieved from 
the position I occupy. 

Joseph Hooker, 

Major- General" 

This request to be relieved was promptly accepted, as the 
above orders plainly show. If this change of commanders 
caused any change of movements it was unknown to us. 
The several corps continued their regular advances. Gen. 
George Sykes succeeded General Meade in command of the 
Fifth corps. 

On June 29th, Battery E moved with the Third corps from 
Woodsborough through Ladiesburg, crossing Little Pipe 
Creek to Middleburg, then over Pipe Creek proper to Taney- 
town. In passing the town several ladies sang a few sweet 
melodies for which we were grateful, and would have listened 
to more with equal pleasure. 

June 30th. Reveille at two a. m., but did not leave camp 
until three p. m. In the meantime we were mustered for two 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 87 

months' pay. After starting we moved northwest, passing 
through Bridgeport and over several branches of the Monoc- 
acy, reached Emmetsburg in the rain at sundown, and en- 
camped in a field of clover a short distance east of the town. 

July 1st, hitched up at sunrise, and after waiting some 
hours in the rain moved through the town and encamped 
about a half mile beyond on the west side of the road leading 
to Gettysburg, a town ten miles north, having at that time 
about three thousand inhabitants. As no map of the battle- 
field accompanies this work, before proceeding further with this 
narrative let us give a brief description of the small town of 
Gettysburg, which is the natural centre of ten roads trav- 
ersing this section of the country. At the north three of 
these roads soon separate, one northwest leads through Mum- 
masburg to Shippensburg, the second runs north to Carlisle, 
and the third, north by northeast, leads to Harrisburg, the cap- 
ital of Pennsylvania. As three roads run north, so three 
start south. First, the Baltimore pike, running south-south- 
east, crossing Cemetery Hill as it leaves the town, then con- 
tinuing throuo-h Littleton and Westminster to Baltimore. 
The second bears a little to the east of south to Taneytown ; 
then, like the former, it leads to Baltimore. The third from 
the south leads south, southwest to Emmitsburg. From the 
east one road extends northeast to Berlin, then eastward to 
York, another southeastward to Hanover. 

Of the two roads that lead westward, the first runs west- 
northwest through Cashtown to Chambersburg, the other 
west-southwest through Fairfield to Hagerstown. The Han- 
over railroad approaches the town from the east, following the 
south bank of Stevens Run. It was not running beyond 
Gettysburg, but the work was begun, and followed nearly 
parallel on the north side of the Chambersburg pike, cutting 
deep trenches through two ridges which lay west of the town. 
The principal streams near Gettysburg are Willoughby Run 
and Rock Creek. They pursue a parallel course from north 
to south, Willoughby Run on the west and Rock Creek on 
the east of Gettysburg. The banks of these streams are cov- 
ered with woods, those of Rock Creek bristling with rocks 
rising from 120 to 150 feet above the bed. Those of Wil- 
loughby Run are not as high nor as steep, and less wooded. 
Between these two streams lies the battlefield of Gettysburg. 



1 88 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

The several hills and ridges associated with the battle of Get- 
tysburg are: first, Seminary Ridge, which starts about one 
and a quarter miles northwest of Gettysburg, and is about two 
miles long. The north section of this ridge is called Oak 
Hill. At the west of the town it takes the name of Semi- 
nary Hill, deriving the appellation from a Lutheran Seminary 
upon its summit, from the belfry of which the whole country 
can be overlooked. This ridge was occupied by Lee's army 
July 2d and 3d. To the west of this is another ridge, but less 
elevated, which borders on Willoughby Run. It was here 
that the battle of July ist was begun by General Reynolds. 
Cemetery Hill lies nearly south of Gettysburg, deriving its 
name from a cemetery which crowns its summit. Along the 
prolongation of the high lands extending south from this hill 
runs the Emmitsburg road. Upon this ridge the Union army 
was posted July 2d and a part of it July 3d. Three miles south 
and a little more than two hundred feet above the streets of 
Gettysburg is the hill known as Round Top. Little Round 
Top is five hundred and fifty yards nearer Gettysburg, and is 
only half as high, and about fifty yards further east. At the 
west base of these two hills, running southeast, is Plum Run. 
Near the west bank of this run and about one hundred yards 
west of Little Round Top is the Devil's Den. The bed of 
this stream is more than three hundred feet below the sum- 
mit of Round Top. Gulp's Hill is the eastern termination of 
Cemetery Hill, separated by a slight depression. It is very 
rocky and mostly covered with wood, and has very steep 
banks at the north. At its eastern base flows Rock Creek. 
On the opposite side is another high elevation known as 
Wolf's Hill. Two-thirds of a mile further south is an emi- 
nence called Power Hill, upon which a part of the Twelfth 
corps was stationed during the third day of the battle.- The 
historic Peach Orchard is two miles from the centre of Get- 
tysburg and half a mile less from the summit of Cemetery 
Hill. From the Peach Orchard to Little Round Top is a little 
less than a mile. Draw a line from the Peach Orchard to Lit- 
tle Round Top and half way between you will find the bloody 
wheat-field. Having detailed this imperfect description* of 
the battlefield, let us return to the movem.ents of the army 
corps. The First corps, on the morning of July ist lay in 
position at Marsh Creek, which cro.sses the road about half 

*rbe .ibove lU'scriptioii i> abriilgfd t'roii Cointc ik' Paris UmIUo of Gettysburg. 



1863] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 189 

way between Emmitsburg and Gettysburg. The Eleventh 
corps was with Battery E at Emmitsburg ; the Twelfth 
was at Littleton on the Westminster road, ten miles south- 
east of Gettysburg ; the Fifth at Union Mills, ten miles in 
the rear of the Twelfth ; and the Sixth at Manchester, mov- 
ing towards Hanover. General Reynolds was in command of 
the First, Third, and Eleventh corps. Such was the situa 
tion on the morning of July jst. During the early part of 
the day, General Buford with the First division of cavalry 
being in the vicinity of Gettysburg, discovered the enemy's 
pickets advancing from the direction of Chambersburg and 
not more than four and a half miles distant. Seeing the 
necessity of holding the enemy back until the arrival of the 
First corps, he at once advanced and engaged them, and soon 
the two lines were in close conflict, both bringing their artil- 
lery into action, and for nearly two hours the contest was se- 
vere, from which Buford must have soon retired if he had re- 
ceived no assistance. Reynolds, on hearing the firing in his 
front, hurried forward to learn the situation. Just as he 
reached the seminary General Buford was descending from 
the tower, when, seeing his chief, he cried out to him, "The 
devil is to pay, but we can hold on until the arrival of the 
First corps." Both then hurried forward to the front, and, 
finding the position a good one, Reynolds seeing the impor- 
tance of preventing the enemy from passing through Gettys- 
burg and taking possession of Cemetery Hill (a position of 
vital importance to them), sent orders to the First and Elev- 
enth corps to hasten forward. 

Wadsworth's division of the First corps being in advance 
soon reached the field and at once deployed to meet the en- 
emy, who were rapidly advancing to gain some stragetic 
points. To prevent this, Cutler's and Meredith's Iron bri- 
gades rapidly advanced, and first gained the coveted points, 
but not without a severe struggle. The line of battle ex- 
tended across the Hagerstown and Chambersburg roads. 
The division artillery was now brought into action. The in- 
fantry found itself engaged along the whole line. Cutler on 
the right, while Meredith, with his Iron brigade, continued 
the struggle with Archer's brigade, for the possession of 
McPherson's woods. It was at the beginning of Meredith's 
attack at these woods that Reynolds, who was advancing 



1 90 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Julj. 

with the brigade, which was under a severe fire at the time, 
and, while setting an example to his own soldiers, was fired 
upon by the enemy in ambush, who were not sixty paces dis- 
tant, and was instantly killed by a ball striking him in the 
head. He expired without uttering a word. In the meantime 
the troops, all unconscious of the fall of their chief, pushed 
on into the woods with such daring as to astonish the en- 
emy, breaking their lines and capturing more than a thou- 
sand prisoners, including General Archer. The balance of 
Archer's brigade was driven at the point of the bayonet 
across Willoughby Run. This was a good beginning on the 
left, but Cutler, on the right, was attacked by Davis's brig- 
ade, and not having any protection, being unable to hold his 
position, was driven back nearly to the suburbs of Gettys- 
burg. A portion of Meredith's brigade, which was in re- 
serve near the seminary, was hurried forward, and joining 
that portion of Cutler's brigade at the left of the railroad, 
attacked Davis's brigade on the flank, driving it into the rail- 
road cut, and capturing nearly all of two regiments, with 
their colors. Thus far only two brigades on the Union side 
had been engaged, while two divisions of A. P. Hill's corps 
lay in his front, and another division in supporting distance. 
The enemy, after being driven back, reformed their lines, 
bringing forward two fresh brigades, under Pettigrew and 
Brockenbrough, and deployed them to the right. Double- 
day, who was now in command, availed himself of the res- 
pite to strengthen his line. Meredith resumed his position 
at the McPherson woods, and Cutler returned to his former 
position. A horse battery was substituted for the division 
battery. Expecting the two other divisions to arrive soon, 
Doubleday patiently awaited their coming. Fortunately the 
enemy contented themselves with a useless cannonade until 
half-past eleven, when Rowley's and Robinson's divisions ap- 
peared upon the scTene of action, one of which was at once 
placed in position. Stone, with his brigade of " Bucktails," 
on the right, and Biddle on the left. A portion of the corps 
artillery was brought forward and placed in position and the 
other division was left at the seminary, in reserve. No sooner 
were the Federals in position than the Confederates opened 
with their artillery. While Brockenbrough was trying to 
outflank our left and capture a reserve force, Pettigrew, 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I9I 

with his division, and Davis's brigade, made an impetuous 
assault upon the brigade of Stone's "Bucktails," who, when 
placed in position, said, " We have come to stay," and, adds 
General Doubleday, when aftewards narrating this incident 
of the battle, " they kept their word ; for the ground was 
open, the position extremely exposed, and a large number of 
them fell upon the spot, never to leave it again." 

General Hill seemed to hesitate in renewing the attack, 
but having brought up his ten reserve batteries, he opened 
fire with eighty pieces upon our troops, inflicting heavy losses. 
Howard had now arrived and assumed command. His corps, 
the Eleventh, arrived soon after, when two of its divisions 
were ordered to form on the right of Doubleday, who now 
resumed command of the First corps. 

Steinwehr's division, with the corps artillery, was ordered 
to occupy Cemetery Hill. Affairs were now approaching a 
crisis. Ewell's corps, which had been menacing Harrisburg 
and other towns east of Gettysburg, was now discovered to 
be approaching from the north and northwest. This made 
the Confederate forces nearly double our own, they having 
in addition at least one hundred pieces of artillery ; besides 
the Federal troops were now to be attacked both in front and 
flank, and that too by a superior force. Rodes's division en- 
tered the fight about noon, and shortly after two p. m. Early's 
division arrived and formed on Rodes's left, with his own left 
reaching across Rock Creek. It became evident that our 
right would be turned and that our troops must retire or be 
killed or captured. The battle had continued almost con- 
stantly since ten a. m. and our loss was heavy. General 
Howard had wisely ordered all the spare artillery to be posted 
on Cemetery Hill, and Steinwehr's division to be posted, 
with a view of supporting our retiring troops. They had 
not long to wait, as the heavy column of the enemy was 
pressing back our lines rapidly, and soon the contest was 
given up. 

The First corps, for the most part, fell back through the 
southwestern outskirts of the town, and took position on the 
left and rear of Steinwehr. The Eleventh corps passed 
through the town and were hard pressed by the Confederates, 
who captured about two thousand five hundred prisoners. 
The portion not captured took position in front and on the 



192 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July. 

right centre of Cemetery Hill. The enemy made no attempt 
to attack us in our new position, but rested on their dearly- 
bought victory in the streets of Gettysburg. While our troops 
were retiring through Gettysburg, General Hancock arrived 
with an order from General Meade to assume command of 
the First, Eleventh, and Third corps, and was further in- 
structed that if in his judgment the position was a good one, 
to arrange the troojos in order to fight the battle at Gettys- 
burg, instead of at Pipe Creek, as General Meade had pre- 
viously designed. Finding the position a strong one he pro- 
ceeded to establish the troops for the continuation of the bat- 
tle the next day. General Hancock, in his report, says : " Be- 
tween five and six o'clock, my dispositions having been com- 
pleted, Major-General Slocum arrived on the field, and, con- 
sidering that my functions had ceased, I transferred the com- 
mand to him. About dark I started' for the headquarters of 
the army, still at Taneytown, thirteen miles distant, and re- 
ported in person to General Meade. I then ascertained that 
he had already given orders for the corps in the rear to ad- 
vance at once to Gettysburg, and was about proceeding there 
in person." 

General Meade arrived at one a. m, on the 2d. In the 
meantime General Slocum had placed the First division of 
his corps (Twelfth) on the right, near Rock Creek. The 
Second division (Geary's), by order of Hancock, was posted 
on the extreme left. This division was moved in the morning 
to the right and placed in position upon Gulp's Hill. At 
five A. M. the Fifth corps arrived and at eight o'clock it was 
placed with the First division of the Twelfth corps on the 
east side of Rock Creek. 

Let us now return to Emmitsburg, where we lay with the 
Third corps on the morning of July ist.. After the heavy 
showers in the morning, the sun shone out hot and scorch- 
ing, and after waiting for moving orders until afternoon, our 
horses were unharnessed and led into a clover field, where 
they were grazed. Soon after we received orders to hasten 
to the assistance of the troops engaged at Gettysburg. 

By three p. m., the First division, in advance, started and 
marched rapidly over the slimy soil, and as the afternoon was 
hot and muggy, and the troops were wet, it was an unusu- 
ally slow march ; nevertheless, the head of the division reached 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 93 

the vicinity of Gettysburg about six p. m., Battery E arrived 
nearly an hour later, and, leaving the road, crossed the field 
about three-quarters of a mile to the east, and went into park 
in a rocky field north of a small tract of woodland. The 
Second division, after passing Marsh Run, by mistake took a 
road to its left, which brought them in contact with the 
enemy's pickets, and having to return to the main road it so 
delayed them that they did not arrive until after midnight. 
One brigade and one battery from each division was left be- 
hind at Emmitsburg. 

De Trobriand, from the First, and Burlings, from the 
Second, both rejoined their commands during the next fore- 
noon. At seven a. m. on the 2d, Birney's division relieved 
General Geary's division, which moved to the right and joined 
the other divisions of his corps. 

At daylight our battery hitched up, and while the men 
were attempting to prepare breakfast we were ordered to 
move from our bivouac to a field nearer to the enemy, where 
we went into battery and awaited preparations for the com- 
ing struggle. In the meantime troops were being placed in 
such positions as the movements of the enemy made neces- 
sary. About noon General Birney sent out a reconnoisance 
to feel for the enemy's right. Advancing from the Peach 
Orchard on the Millertown road, they soon encountered the 
enemy moving in three columns towards our left. The troops 
sent by Birney were soon driven back by the enemy with a 
loss of about sixty. This discovery made it necessary to 
change our lines to the position which they held during the 
battle which soon followed, the position being as follows, 
namely : General Ward held the left of our line, resting on the 
western base of Little Round Top. De Trobriand joined 
Ward's right, connecting with Graham's brigade, which lay 
at and to the right of the angle at the Peach Orchard. It was 
with this brigade that Battery E was stationed, the One Hun- 
dred and Fourteenth, Fifty-seventh, and One Hundred and 
Fifth Pennsylvania being in our immediate rear, the Sixty- 
eighth Pennsylvania on our left, the Sixty-third Pennsylva- 
nia on our right, a little to the front ; on our left, a short dis- 
tance from the angle, lay the One Hundred and P'orty-first 
Pennsylvania. 

13 



194 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [ July- 

Hum phreys's Second division of our corps was at the right 
of Birney's division, and connecting with the Second corps, to 
which Brown's and Arnold's Rhode Island batteries belonged. 
Captain Randolph, upon being notified by General Sickles 
that he proposed to advance the right of his line to the Em- 
mitsburg Road, proceeded to place his batteries in position. 
Smith's Fourth New York being on the left, near the base of 
Little Round Top. On the right of Smith, after passing a 
belt of woods, was an opening, the wheat-field, in which was 
placed Winslow's First New York battery ; next on his right 
was Bigelow's Ninth Massachusetts battery from the reserve ; 
on his right was Clark's (B) New Jersey battery, and at the 
Peach Orchard was Captain Ames's First New York battery 
(G) also from the reserve. 

Captain Randolph says: "All these batteries fronted 
toward Emmitsburg." On the right of the Peach Orchard 
was Battery E, commanded by Lieut. John K. Bucklyn ; to 
the right of this was Seeley's (K) Fourth United States ; 
still further to the right was Turnbull's (F. and K), Third 
United States. These three batteries fronted west About 
three p. m. the Sixth corps began to arrive, having marched 
thirty-four miles. Our troops being now all up, let us restate 
the position of the corps. The general shape of the Federal 
line was somewhat in the form of a fish-hook, the point being 
the right, which was occupied by the Twelfth corps. Next 
came Wadsworth's division of the First corps on Gulp's Hill. 
This corps was now in command of General Newton. On 
the left of this was the Eleventh corps on Cemetery Hill, and 
at the base of this hill were two divisions of the First corps. 
Joining the left of this was the right of the Second corps, and 
then came the Third corps. The Fifth corps, which had 
been at the extreme right, was, at the commencement of the 
battle, transferred to the extreme left. The Sixth corps was 
held in reserve in the rear of the Round Top. The Rebel 
army was divided into three corps. General Longstreet com- 
manded the First, and was in position in front of our left, 
covering the Fifth and Third corps. Gen. A. P. Hill, Third 
corps, confronted our centre, while General Ewell, with the 
Second corps, held the lines in front of our right. It was 
General Meade's first intention to attack the Confederate 
left, but it being strongly opposed by some of his best com- 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 95 

manders, it was given up, and he began to concentrate his 
troops on the rebel right, but before this could be accom- 
plished, General Lee commenced the battle, and Meade had 
to assume the defensive. 

Much has been written in relation to the position of Sickles 
at the angle. He claims that the position was discretional, 
and that it was tacitly approved by General Hunt, who had 
been sent by General Meade to examine the position ; but 
General Hunt was unwilling to assume the responsibility, and 
requested Meade to go and see for himself, which he did, and 
while he admitted that it had some excellent points, upon the 
whole he thought it not a good position. General Sickles 
then offered to withdraw further to the rear, but was told by 
General Meade that it was too late, as the woods in his front 
were full of rebels, who would not allow him to do so. In 
fact, the two divisions of Hood and McLaw's were already 
preparing to advance. Hood's division was on their extreme 
right, and was composed of Law's, Robertson's, Anderson's, 
and Benning's brigades. McLaw's division had four brigades, 
and was commanded by Kershaw, Barkesdale, Semmes and 
Wofford. Barksdale's brigade, at the commencement of the 
fight, was stationed in the woods immediately in our front. 
In front of the woods at the right of Barksdale's brigade were 
the batteries of Parker and Taylor, and on their right ex- 
tended a stone wall, which ran south for about one hundred and 
twenty-five rods. Behind this wall there were, besides the 
division artillery, Alexander's battalion of six batteries. To 
the left of Barksdale's brigade, and to the right of Battery E, 
were the batteries of Ross and Patterson, making thirteen 
batteries that had a good range upon our position at the Peach 
Orchard. It was between three and four p. m., that Kershaw's 
brigade arrived in front of our position, and immediately 
formed in line of battle behind the stone wall. Hood's divis- 
ion at the same time was moving to his rear, to form on his 
right. Hood was to commence the attack upon Ward's 
brigade, which formed the left of our line at that hour. It 
was supposed by Longstreet that the angle in our line formed 
the left of our position, and it was not until his advance had 
begun to move upon that point that they discovered the value 
of the Round Tops. Although an effort had been made by 
Kershaw and Hood to obtain Longstreet's permission to first 



196 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July. 

capture the mountains, that officer refused to change the 
order received from General Lee, who had hoped to be able 
to double our line back towards Gettysburg, thereby reaching 
our rear. There being no other course to pursue but to ad- 
vance as first ordered, the movement was at once begun with 
their usual dash, driving in our skirmishers as they advanced. 
Winslow's and Smith's batteries at once opened upon the 
rebel line, but Ward ordered his infantry not to fire until the 
rebels were within two hundred yards. Ward says: "The 
enemy had now approached to within two hundred yards of 
my position in line, and cji masse, yelling and shouting. My 
command did not fire a shot until the enemy came within 
the distance prescribed, when the whole command fired a 
volley. This checked the enemy's advance suddenly, which 
gave our men opportunity to reload, when another volley was 
fired into them. The enemy now exhibited much disorder, 
and, taking advantage of this circumstance, I advanced my 
right and centre with a view of obtaining a position behind a 
stone wall about one hundred and sixty yards in advance, and 
which the enemy was endeavoring to reach. While advanc- 
ing, the rear columns of the enemy pressed forward to the 
support of the advance, who rallied and again advanced. 
This time our single line was forced back a short distance by. 
the heavy column of the enemy. In this manner, for the 
space of one and a-half hours, did we advance and retire, both 
parties endeavoring to gain possession of the stone wall. In 
the meantime, I had sent to General Birney for reinforce- 
ments, who directed Colonel Eagan with the Fortieth New 
York to report. The enemy now concentrated his force on 
our extreme left, with the intention to turn our left flank 
through a gorge between my left and Sugar Loaf Hill. The 
Fortieth New York was dispatched to cover the gorge, which 
they did most effectually. Our men, now much exhausted, 
and nearly destitute of ammunition, were relieved by a por- 
tion of the Second and Fifth corps, when we retired and 
bivouacked for the night." 

General Warren, who was on Meade's staff as chief engi- 
neer, had been sent to examine our position on the left. On 
reaching the summit of Little Round Top, which was, on his 
arrival, only being used as a signal station, he at once saw its 
great importance to our success, and seeing that the enemy 



1863] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 97 

would soon occupy it if not prevented, he hastened down the 
steep slope, and meeting Barnes's division of the Fifth corps, 
which was C7i route to reinforce Birney's centre that was be- 
ing hard pushed, hurriedly explained the situation. Detach- 
ing Vincent's brigade, he hastened it to the summit of Little 
Round Top, arriving just in time, for the enemy was rapidly 
advancing up the opposite slope. Weed's brigade and Haz- 
lett's battery ^regulars) were sent to reinforce Vincent. Now 
followed a hand-to-hand conflict, in which the Federals were 
victorious, but at a fearful loss. Colonel Vincent being mor- 
tally wounded. Colonel O'Rourke, of the One Hundred and 
Fortieth New York, was the first to arrive, and not having 
time to load, charged the enemy, and was himself killed. 
Hazlett, in bending over his friend to receive his last mes- 
sage, was shot and fell upon the body of his chief. The 
enemy failing to capture the hill by direct assault, sought to 
effect it by turning its left, which they partially succeeded in 
doing, but were finally driven back by the Twentieth Maine. 
In this struggle for the Round Top our loss was severe, but 
it doubtless secured to us the final victory of Gettysburg. 
Seventeen officers, 500 men and 1,000 stands of arms were 
secured by the Federals. 

During the contest between Ward's brigade and the bri- 
gades of Hood's division, De Trobriand, who held the lin 
near the angle, had sent the Seventeenth Maine and Fortieth 
New York to reinforce Ward, and his Third Michigan, which 
was near the Peach Orchard, between which and his brigade 
there was quite a distance. This left only the Fifth Michi- 
gan and the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania to hold 
the centre of his line. Against this position, about five p. m., 
Kershaw's brigade of Mc Law's division, and his brigade of 
South Carolina troops advanced, and vigorously attacked this 
weak line, but De Trobriand's heroic troops held on tena- 
ciously, being hard pressed, but, with the aid of the artillery, 
which was posted near him, he held his ground. In the 
meantime, Sweitzer's and Tilton's brigades of Barnes's division 
of the Fifth corps arrived with reinforcements, and were 
posted on the right of the Third brigade. Burling's brigade 
from the Second division was also sent to render its services. 
Now followed one of -the most desperate and courageous en- 



198 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

counters of this or any other war, the artillery and infantry 
both alike being conspicuous for their daring. 

This effort to capture the Peach Orchard from the left had 
been preceded by an hour of fierce artillery fighting, in which 
Battery E was conspicuously engaged, our troops receiving 
in return the fire of Alexander's battalion of six batteries and 
the four batteries of Cabel's battalion. Besides these ten. 
Major Henry's four batteries from the left, with those of Pat- 
terson's and Ross's from the right, were brought to bear 
upon the troops holding the angle at the Peach Orchard. In 
this attack Kershaw's Confederate brigade was supported by 
those of Semmes and Barksdale, the latter advancing soon 
after Kershaw, who had in his front, besides De Trobriand, 
the brigades of Sweitzer and Tilton. Kershaw having at- 
tacked Sweitzer, and having failed to gain any advantage, 
turned upon Tilton's brigade, which stubbornly resisted, but 
being poorly supported on the right, was obliged to fall back, 
thus leaving Sweitzer's flank unprotected, and compelling his 
brigade to follow Tilton's. This retreat also affected De 
Trobriand and Ward, the latter having, in the meantime, 
been severely attacked by Robinson and Benning upon both 
his right and left at the same time. Smith, who had been 
posted to support Ward, and had previously lost half of his 
battery, now barely saved the three guns left. Ward, now 
that Sweitzer and Tilton had failed to hold the ground at the 
right of the Devil's Den Hill, was obliged to yield his ground 
also. The Confederates now attacked the Seventeenth Maine 
in flank, and advanced through the wheat-field with the inten- 
tion of capturing Winslow's battery, but the men of that bat- 
tery made it a costly effort for the enemy before removing 
their guns to the rear. De Trobriand's left flank was now 
exposed, and at the same time was attacked in front by An- 
derson's brigade. Kershaw having driven Sweitzer and Til- 
ton from his right, advanced to reach his rear, which forced 
De Trobriand to give ground also. It is not to be supposed 
that the Third Maine and the Third Michigan were idle 
during De Trobriand's vigorous contest with Kershaw's and 
Anderson's brigades. These two small but battle-scarred 
regiments were located at the right of the angle at the Peach 
Orchard, and in front of Ames's, Clark's and Bigelow's bat- 
teries. In the rear of these batteries were the One Hundred 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 99 

and Forty-first Pennsylvania, Second New Hampshire and 
Seventh New Jersey. This was the only support that pro- 
tected Battery E from Kershaw's brigade on the south. 
From these troops Kershaw's flank was constantly exposed 
when attacking De Trobriand's right, and from this annoy- 
ance, he ordered the Second, Third and Eighth South Caro- 
lina regiments to form at right angles to his main line and 
drive back these regiments. Maffett, who commanded the 
Third South Carolina regiment, says : " In this position the 
enemy advanced to within thirty yards of us, and for more 
than an hour we held him in check." The Eighth South 
Carolina now advanced against Clark's and Bigelow's bat- 
teries, but the One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania 
came to their rescue and stopped their advance with a mur- 
derous fire. For a better protection these batteries were 
moved to the north side of the cross road, although it still 
more exposed De Trobriand's and Barnes's troops. So hard 
pressed were these troops that Hancock was ordered by Meade 
to send Caldwell's division to Birney's support, Cross's brig- 
ade, of this command, supporting De Trobriand, the other, 
under Kelly, going to support Ward. This was Meagher's 
Irish brigade. 

Comte De Paris relates of this brigade : " It will fight with 
its wonted gallantry, for each soldier is ready to sacrifice his 
life, with the more readiness that he has been prepared to die 
as a Christian. As the moment is drawing near for march- 
ing against the enemy, all the ranks are kneeling, and the 
chaplain, mounted upon a rock, which affords him a natural 
pulpit, has pronounced a general absolution to the whole bri- 
gade in the midst of a religious silence only interrupted by the 
fire of the artillery. The command, 'Forward!' immediately 
follows the words of the priest, and the Irish have at once 
rushed into the thickest of the fight. They suddenly stop 
Anderson's brigade in its advance." 

The fighting in front of Birney and extending to the 
Round Tops was general and severe. Birney placing him- 
self at the head of a part of De Trobriand's and Cross's 
troops with those of Burling's regiments, led them against 
Kershaw and drove him back upon Semmes, who was m his 
support. In this attack General Cross was killed and his 
first line broken. Caldwell now sent in his second line, com- 



200 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

posed of York's and Brooks's brigades, who drove back 
Semmes beyond the ravine and also forced back Kershaw's 
left. The enemy here fought with their usual stubbornness, 
not giving way until nearly surrounded, and then only to re- 
form for a renewal of the contest. Says the author above 
quoted : " At last McLaws, seeing Semmes and Kershaw 
forced back in disorder by Caldwell, decides to attack the 
orchard. Sickles has given Graham the effectives of two 
brigades to defend it, but it would require strong intrench- 
ments to cover a position so destitute of natural shelter on 
its two flanks. The Confederates slacken the fire of their 
artillery ; the infantry is in motion. Barksdale advances 
against that one of those two flanks which lies opposite to the 
west. Wofford, placed in rear of his right, comes by a half- 
wheel to attack the south front by assisting some of the bat- 
talions of Kershaw's brigade which have not joined in there- 
treat. Graham, wrapped in a vortex of fire, sees his troops 
rapidly diminish around him. It is in vain that a regular bat- 
tery comes to relieve that of Ames at the point most exposed, 
that Randolph (Bucklyn) has silenced some of the enemy's 
guns, — that all the Federal guns are firing canister into the 
ranks of the assailants, for the Confederate infantry pene- 
trates into the orchard and takes possession of it ; Graham 
is wounded and taken prisoner ; his soldiers share his fate or 
are dispersed along the slopes of the hillocks, which they rap- 
idly descend ; Sickles hastens from the Trostle House, but a 
bullet breaks his leg and he is obliged to transfer the com- 
mand to Birney. The batteries posted along the right on the 
Emmitsburg road abandon positions which it is no longer 
possible to defend. Those on the left continue to fire almost 
at short range, causing the guns after each fire to be drawn back 
a few paces ; but nothing can prevent the defeat of Birney's 
division, which, out of scarcely five thousand men, has lost two 
thousand. ]^arksdale, followed closely by several batteries, 
rushes into the open breach between Humphreys's left and 
Barnes's right, and leaving to the troops that are to support 
him in the task of striking these divisions in the rear, he still 
pushes forward. The canister thins the ranks of his soldiers, 
but his example sustains their courage. On his right, Wof- 
ford, following his success, bears to the eastward to take in 
flank the cncmv's regiments that are holding Kershaw in 



,863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 20I 

check. It requires less than an hour for the Confederates to 
achieve this success, which changes the aspect of the combat. 
They have two hours of daylight to take advantage of it. In 
the centre, Hill, following strictly Lee's instructions, hastens 
to push forward in rapid succession Anderson's three bri- 
gades, commanded by Wilcox, Perry, and Wright, against 
Humphreys. The first-named commander, who has been 
shown by the general-in-chief himself since four o'clock what 
direction to take, inclines at first to the left in order to avoid 
meeting at the orchard McLaw's line running almost perpen- 
dicular to his own, then he faces to the right in line of battle 
for the purpose of attacking in front that portion of the Em- 
mitsburg road occupied by Humphreys. The other two bri- 
gades form on his left." 

It is now after six o'clock, at which time the Fifth, Third, 
and Second corps troops are struggling against seeming de- 
feat. Ewell, who commanded the rebel left, had been ordered 
by Lee to attack the Federals in his front at the sound of 
Longstreet's guns, but for some reason failed to attack until 
near seven o'clock. In this attack the Eleventh and that 
part of the Twelfth corps which had not gone to support the 
left and a portion from the First corps were engaged. This 
attack was severe and persistent, and was continued until 
after nine o'clock p. m. The enemy captured a portion of our 
works, from which they were subsequently driven. Their 
charges upon our lines were desperate and their losses were 
severe. It is not proper in this brief history of Battery E to 
write in detail the battle of Gettysburg, but only to refer by 
way of connection to that part of the battle in which the 
battery was not engaged. 

In this second attack by Kershaw and Semmes upon Bir- 
ney's right centre, Barnes's two brigades of Sweitzer's and 
Tiiton's were forced back, which uncovered De Trobriand's 
centre, his left having been penetrated to his rear so that the 
enemy crossed their fire behind him. This state of affairs 
made it necessary for him to retreat across the bloody wheat- 
field over which so many desperate charges had been made by 
himself and others. The loss of our position at the centre, 
with the approach of Barksdale upon our front soon after, 
made it necessary to retire in order to save the battery from 
capture, from which we had a narrow escape, if the report of 



202 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

Captain Bowen, who commanded the One Hundred and 
Fourteenth Pennsylvania, can be relied upon, of which there 
is no reason to doubt.* 

This regiment was known as the Collis Zouaves, and dur- 
ing the first part of the battle was commanded by Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Cavada, who was captured about the time we fell 
back. The command then fell upon Captain Bowen, who 
says : "Captain Randolph, chief of artillery of the corps, at 
this moment rode up to the regiment and ordered us to ad- 
vance, saying, ' If you want to save my battery move for- 
ward. I cannot find the general. I give the order on my 
own responsibility.' We then advanced, passing through his 
battery, which immediately limbered up and went to the rear, 
and the regiment crossing the road formed a line of battle, 
our line on the right joining the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania 
Volunteers." 

After this an attempt was made to advance to the rear of 
the brick house (Sherfy's), but before that could be done the 
rebels had gained the road and flanked them throwing them 
into confusion. After this a portion of the regiment rallied 
around its colors and was taken to the rear. Captain Nelson 
reports for the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania and says of the 
morning of the 2d : " We advanced to the right and rear of 
the Peach Orchard and remained about one hour ; then ad- 
vanced to the front and deployed, taking a position on the 
right of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania. 
Volunteers near the brick house (Sherfy's) where we were ex- 
posed to a severe shelling for about two hours, when, at the 
request of Captain Randolph, we advanced to the brick 
house and met the enemy in force, who were advancing upon 
us in three lines. We engaged him about twenty minutes, 
but being overpowered by a superior force, we were obliged to 
fall back, the One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers having done so already." Col. Calvin A. Craig, 
commanding the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Regi- 
ment, which formed on the right of the two former, says he 
remained after the One Hundred and Fourteenth and Fifty- 
seventh Pennsylvania regiments had retired, and slowly re- 
tired, fighting with the troops of Humphreys's division. 
These reports are referred to to show that the batteries at 

* Tlie reader must not confound Anderson's division of Hill's corps with Anderson's- 
brigade of Hood's division. 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 203 

and near the orchard retired at least one-half hour before the 
infantry of Graham's command were forced back by Barks- 
dale's brigade. 

Humphrey's division, now that the orchard had been evac- 
uated, found its left flank exposed and enfiladed by the rebel 
artillery, and being attacked in front by Wilcox's, Perry's and 
Wright's brigades of Anderson's division, he found it nec- 
essary to retire, so as to connect with a new line to be formed 
on his left. This he successfully accomplished by a back- 
ward march in line, fighting all the time the enemy, who were 
closely upon him. He held the enemy at bay, but his loss 
was fearful, both in officers and men, being two-fifths of his 
command. 

Humphrey's division having given ground on the right of 
Birney's position at the angle near the Peach Orchard, left 
the troops of Sweitzer and Tilton, who had just driven Ker- 
shaw from his captured ground, still more exposed, as their 
rear Vv'as threatened by Barksdale and Wofford. The latter 
now attacked Tilton vigorously, who, after a determined re- 
sistance is obliged to give way. Kershaw now renews the 
attack against Sw'eitzer and York, who successfully resist 
his assaults. Kershaw is now reinforced by Semmes's bri- 
gade who succeed in forcing our troops out of the woods. 
Caldwell's Second corps, who have so bravely fought since 
coming to Birney's assistance, are now in turn attacked in 
front and flank, and likewise are forced to retire from the 
woods and the wheat-field, the bloody soil of which is covered 
with the dead and dying. In this struggle General Zook is 
killed and our losses are enormous. Comte de Paris, in his 
history of the battle, says : " The Confederates, posted in 
the woods, command all its approaches ; their artillery, de- 
scending the slopes of the hillock of the orchard, takes the 
Unionists in flank. Brooks charges with his brigade in vain ; 
he is repulsed and seriously wounded. The Federal line is 
irrevocably broken, and all the forces which have until then 
held Longstreet in check on the left, are unable to reform it. 
Out of eight brigades brought into action by the commander 
of the First Confederate corps, six are making desperate at- 
tacks upon them. The Union troops, most of them in com- 
plete disorder, fall back on the wooded hillocks which line the 
left bank of Plum Run. 



204 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

Rut Kershaw and Semmes, exhausted in their turn, have 
halted in the wood whence Barnes and De Trobriand have 
just been dislodged. Only two brigades have passed over 
the Millerstovvn road ; on the left that of Wofford pushes 
forward in order to support Barksdale on the right ; that of 
Anderson, who has just been wounded, occupies the wood 
beyond the road, bringing several of the enemy's guns, which 
it had captured back of the Trostle House, and even tries to 
cross Plum Run, but in vain. 

In the meanwhile, Hancock, who, on the news of Sickles's 
wounds, has been entrusted by Meade with the command of 
the entire left, is endeavoring to unite the two parts of the 
Federal line. Humphreys has just completed his movements. 
Most of the guns attached to his division, having lost all 
their horses, have been abandoned in the patch of ground be- 
hind which he has posted himself, but they remain within the 
circle of his fire as a tempting prize for the enemy. Big- 
elow's battery having no longer a single soldier to support it, 
takes a position in front of the Trostle House and fires can- 
ister upon the Confederates, who are advancing from every 
direction against it. One after another the gunners fall near 
their wounded chief, their pieces being sacrified ; but they 
have succeeded in delaying the march of the enemy on the 
left. . . . Ayres, bringing the two regular brigades of 
Day and Burbank, has crossed Plum Run and occupies the 
crest of Devil's Den on the right bank with a portion of 
Ward's soldiers, who have not been dislodged from it. The 
retreat of Barnes and Caldwell uncovers his right flank, thus 
leaving him isolated in advance of the rest of the line ; but 
although attacked on three sides by Hood's and McLaw's 
troops he forces a passage through their oblique fires. His 
regular troops once more justify their old reputation, not a 
single man has left the ranks, and they allow themselves to 
be decimated without flinching. Eleven hundred combatants 
only out of an effective force of two thousand are left stand- 
ing, when, falling back gradually, they finally take position 
on the right of Weed, east of Plum Run, along the northern 
base of Little Round Top." 

The left was now firmly posted on the east bank of Plum 
Run, its defenders being the troops of Sykes's Fifth corps. 
Although the sun was seemingly about to hide its face from 



iS63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 205 

the cruel scenes being enacted upon this bloody field, the en- 
emy, hopeful of further success, continued their attack upon 
Humphrey's division and the second corps. General Hunt 
brought to their assistance IMcGilvery's artillery reserve, con- 
sisting of some thirty pieces. Against this force Barksdale's 
and Wofford's brigades advanced with Iheir comparatively 
fresh troops. Alexander's rebel artillery brigade advanced 
to a position in rear of where Bucklyn's battery had so 
bravely fought. To these rebel forces must be added the 
artillery of A. P. Hill's corps. The enemy fought with seem- 
ing intention of separating our left from the centre of the 
army, and had it not been for the unparalleled effort of our 
brave troops they would have succeeded. The closing half 
hour's struggle between the troops just named was severe 
and persistent, so much so that aid was called from the First, 
Twelfth and Sixth corps. Stannard's brigade of Vermont- 
ers, from the First corps, were conspicuous in recapturing 
the guns of a regular battery. The division sent from the 
Twelfth corps arrived too late to be of service, as the enemy 
had been checked before they reached the point of danger. 
As to the Sixth corps, Doubleday says : " As Crawford 
charged, two brigades of Sedgwick's corps, those of Nevin 
and Eustis, formed under Wheaton on the right and below 
Little Round Top. The sight of the firm front presented 
by these troops thoroughly discouraged Longstreet, who 
went forward to reconnoitre and he gave up all attempts at 
making any farther advance." 

It was, then, to the Second, Third, and Fifth corps, that 
the honor belongs of saving the army from defeat. 

The last effort of the enemy on the 2d, to which I shall 
refer, will be that which followed Humphrey's change of 
front obliquely across the ridge, to connect with Birney's di- 
vision. In doing this he was followed up by the rebel brig- 
ades of Wilcox, Perry and Wright, of which it can be said 
the Confederates had no better material. Wright's alone, of 
these brigades, actually reached the crest of the hill, but af- 
ter capturing a gun, his, with Perry's and Wilcox's brigades, 
were driven back with severe losses. In this encounter Wil- 
lard's brigade of the Second corps came to Humphreys's as 
sistance, his command being badly cut up and he himself 
killed. In regard to the left Doubleday says : " Meade 



206 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

places himself at the head of Lockwood's soldiers. These 
two regiments penetrate into the wood situated north of the 
Millerstown road, on the other side of Plum Run, and attack 
Anderson's brigade. McCandless supports them so as to 
connect them with the rest of Sykes's troops." 

Now let the French historian describe the closing scene of 
the second day's battle on the left and centre of the Federal 
army. After describing the scenes of the battle as witnessed 
by the rebel generals, from the summit of Seminary Hill, 
he says : " Wright, encouraged by the sight of the crowds 
that are encumbering the Baltimore road, and believing him- 
self already master of the northern ridge of Cemetery Hill, 
fights with desperate energy; but in the space of a quarter of 
an hour he loses nearly two-thirds of his effective force and 
falls back before Gibbons's division, which is arrayed against 
him. Wilcox, taken in flank by McGilvery's artillery, in- 
stead of the retreating soldiers he was pursuing, meets 
Humphreys in good order on one side, and Hancock's re- 
serves on the other, thus finding himself within a circle of 
fire, where he leaves five hundred men out of the sixteen 
hundred, which composed his command. Rather forsaken 
than vanquished, these two brigades strike once more the Em- 
mitsburg road. The last effort of the Confederates against 
the Federals' left wing has failed. Twilight has come ; the 
firing of musketry ceases, that of the artillery languishes ; 
the smoke clears away, but in proportion as silence prevails 
there, the sound of the battle which is progressing along the 
opposite wing is more distinctly heard." 

Having briefly detailed that part of the battle in which the 
troops with whom Battery E was associated took an active 
part, I will now describe the part taken by Battery E, more in 
detail. Previous to three p. m. the battery had remained in po- 
sition in a line held by Birney's division on the morning of the 
2d. About that hour. Acting Assistant Adjutant General P. 
S. Jastram, of Randolph's staff, arrived with an order for Lieu- 
tenant Bucklyn to move his battery to the front. The bat- 
tery immediately and rapidly moved as ordered, and, as be- 
fore stated, was placed in position under a heavy artillery fire 
from the enemy. Without a moment's delay we began firing, 
directing our shot upon the batteries of Alexander's battalion, 
and, more particularly, upon the batteries of Rhett and Moody, 



•S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 207 

which were in position behind a stone wall a little to the left 
of our front, although we occasionally had to turn our atten- 
tion to the batteries of Parker and Taylor, which were posted 
more to our right. These two latter were more to the rear, 
and hidden from view by the wood in which they were posted. 
They also supported Barksdale's brigade when the command 
entered the fight later on. It was the intention of Long- 
street to crush our lines at the angle with his formidable 
array of artillery, with the purpose in view of following up the 
disaster with his infantry. The enemy's guns, when this 
action commenced, were but 700 yards distant. Soon after 
the beginning of this action Colonel Alexander, who was in 
chief command of the several battalions of artillery, says : 
"The ground at Cabell's position gave little protection, and 
he suffered rapidly in both men and horses. To help him, I 
ran up Huger with eighteen guns and twenty-six of my own, 
to the Warfield House, within five hundred yards of the Peach 
Orchard, and opened upon it. This made fifty-four guns in 
action, and I hoped they would crush that part of the enemy's 
line in a very short time, but the fight was longer and hotter 
than I expected. So accurate was the Federals' fire, that 
two of my guns were fairly dismounted, and the loss of men 
was so great that I had to ask General Barksdale, whose bri- 
gade was lying down close behind in the wood, for help to 
handle the heavy twenty-four-pound howitzers of Moody's 
battery." 

It was not only from the fire of the batteries in our front 
that we suffered, but the shots of those batteries which were 
firing upon the south front of the Peach Orchard passed 
through our battery. Not only these already named, but the 
two batteries of Ross and Patterson, who were in front of 
Humphrey's division, would occasionally fire a few shots in 
our direction. With these intruders, the left section, which 
was the right of our battery, exchanged a few shots, doing- 
each other, probably, no harm. This artillery duel was con- 
tinued from one-half to three-quarters of an hour, when, for a 
short time, there was but little artillery firing. During the 
interval the infantry of the enemy advanced to the front of 
its artillery, and no sooner had they uncovered its range than 
it again renewed its action, with more intensity, if possible, 
than before. 



208 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

While Generals Kershaw's and Semmes's brigades were en- 
gaged with De Trobriand's and Barnes's brave troops at our 
left there was no cessation of artillery fighting. The enemy's 
guns were constantly in action, first upon one point, then 
upon another, wherever they thought its service would do the 
most good. During the greater part of our action the infantry 
in our front was kept under cover of the wood, and were, 
therefore, not visible, but as they were within range, we suf- 
fered none the less from the bullets of the skirmishers and 
sharpshooters who were almost constantly annoying us with 
their unerring fire. Many of our men and horses had already 
been wounded, but the worst had not come. It was not until 
the troops at our left centre had been driven back that we 
saw any serious danger menacing our position, but when the 
battle began to rage almost in our rear, with our front threat- 
ened by the advancing of Barksdale's brigade, we began to 
fear that the Army of the Potomac would have to resume its 
habit of retreating. It was about this time that Lieutenant 
Bucklyn moved his battery slightly to the right and rear, pre- 
sumably to allow the infantry a better chance to manoeuvre in 
our front. This relieved the sixth piece from its more dan- 
gerous position which it occupied on the Emmitsburg road. 
Barksdale evidently intended to capture our battery, and, as 
he covertly approached, its supporting artillery seemed to re- 
double its fury upon us. Although our battery was severely 
crippled, it did not lessen, but rather increased its effort to 
maintain its position and drive the enemy back. Lieutenant 
Bucklyn, always brave and daring, now that death and destruc- 
tion appeared almost inevitable, seemed, if possible, to show 
more daring as the danger increased. Freeborn, who com- 
manded the right section, although undemonstrative, showed 
that quality which stays. Lieutenant Allen, in command of 
the left section, was equally cool and daring, and First Sergt. 
Charles S. Winslow, who commanded the centre section, ex- 
hibited that quality of a soldier, which, had he not been dis- 
abled by a severe wound, would doubtless have given him a 
commission. Notwithstanding the efforts of these brave offi- 
cers, who had no less brave men to command, it was found 
impossible to continue the struggle much longer. Our rear 
being threatened, and our front about to be attacked by in- 
fantry, and there being no infantry of ours as yet in front, it 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 209 

was considered best to withdraw the artillery and leave the 
field to our infantry. Accordingly, the Fifty-seventh, One 
Hundred and Fifth, and One Hundred and Fourteenth Penn- 
sylvania regiments were ordered to advance to the front of 
our position, and the latter, as before stated, passing through 
our battery. These regiments were joined on their right by 
Carr's brigade of the Second division. The line of battle 
formed by these commands advanced as far as Sherfy's barn, 
where they promptly engaged Barksdale's advancing "bri- 
gade, with the result before stated. During this movement 
Battery E was being severely shelled by the enemy's enfilad- 
ing batteries on the left. From the front Barksdale's troops 
were advancing, their fire rapidly reducing us both in men and 
horses. Owing to the position of our infantry we could not 
reply to them. Already nearly one-half of our horses and 
one-third of our men were either killed or wounded. The left 
section, and probably the centre, also, had already retired to 
the crest of the hill by the use of the prolonge. It was at 
this juncture that Lieutenant Bucklyn received orders to re- 
tire his battery to the rear, but the battery being so severely 
crippled, its movement was not in unison, and each piece had 
to be retired as best it could. The battery was taken about 
three-quarters of a mile to the rear, with the exception of the 
third piece and the fourth caisson. The latter, after having 
its axle repaired by Albert A. Hopkins (our blacksmith), was 
sent to join the battery at the orchard, but was overturned on 
the way, and did not reach its destination. Sergeant Har- 
graves, who commanded the former, having lost eleven of his 
thirteen horses, including his own, was unable with only one 
serviceable horse to follow the battery, and he was at first sup- 
posed to have been taken prisoner, but his coolness and 
bravery, for which he was noted, enabled him, with one un- 
wounded horse and a few severely wounded ones, to move his 
command to a place of safety. The next day, after several 
hours of search, he found and rejoined the battery. 

The men, in leaving the field, were so widely scattered that 
it was not until the next forenoon that they were again united. 
It was feared that many of these absent comrades had fallen 
on leaving the field, or had been captured, and their safe re- 
turn was a cause of rejoicing among their comrades. This, 

14 



2 10 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

however, did not cancel the sorrow which we felt for the many 
brave companions who had either given their lives, or were 
suffering from the brutality of war in our field hospitals. It 
would be a great satisfaction had the writer the means of re- 
cording the many incidents which took place relating to our 
men that bore such a brave- part and suffered so much for the 
patriotic principles for which they were fighting ; but as many 
of those noble men are now dead, and most of the living are 
so ^r distant, or their residence unknown, it is impossible to 
obtain but a small portion of the many incidents that hap- 
pened in connection with this unparalleled battle. We had 
upon the battlefield eighty-seven horses, and, according to 
the diaries of Sergt. Charles P. Williams, and of Dr. Lester S. 
Hill, who was gunner on the fifth piece, the loss was forty- 
one. The diary, of the writer records seventeen killed and 
twenty-two wounded, while Hill says : "Twenty of the forty- 
one were killed." 

The doctor probably included three that died soon after. 
Our loss in men, according to the writer's diary, was three 
killed outright, two mortally wounded, who died soon after, 
and twenty-six wounded who recovered, making a total of 
thirty-one. The record kept by Sergeant Williams gives thirty 
men killed and wounded. That of Sergeant Humphreys corre- 
sponds with the writer's. The monument erected on the 
battlefield in honor of Battery E has engraved upon it, 
" Three men killed, two officers and twenty-four men 
wounded." This makes only twenty-nine, being one less 
than the official records on file at the War Department at 
Washington. These variations are doubtless caused by not 
counting, in some instances, those slightly wounded. The 
killed were William Beard, Alvin Hilton, and Corp. Ernest 
Simpson. Beard belonged in Olneyville, R. I., where he left 
a wife. He will be remembered by his comrades as a very 
industrious and useful soldier. He was almost constantly 
employed in washing clothes for his companions, from whom 
he received compensation. Hilton was a detached man from 
one of our division regiments. Corporal Simpson, to whom 
reference has been made before, was more than an ordinary 
man, and had somewhat of a romantic history. Lieutenant 
Bucklyn, in a communication to the Pro\'idence SiiiiJaj' Star 
of June II, 1882, says: "Ernest Simpson was my com- 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 2 11 

pany clerk, and had begged permission to go into the battle. 
I told him we would probably be killed, and he must settle 
my accounts with the government. During the fight he 
came to me and asked permission to take charge of a gun. I 
consented, and in a few minutes his head was shot off. He 
was a brave and noble soldier, who joined us at York, Pa., 
attracted by the great reputation of Rhode Island batteries. 
He had left home (Leipsic, Germany,) because his parents 
opposed a love affair, attempted to commit suicide in London, 
and joined us with the expectation of being killed. He said 
I was his only friend in America, and he made a will in my 
favor, which I now have." 

The mortally wounded were Frank Martin and John Beadle, 
of whose history nothing is known, only that both were de- 
tached from the infantry. They lived only a few hours. 
The wounded officers were Captain Randolph, Lieutenant 
Bucklyn, Commanding Lieut. Benjamin Freeborn, First Sergt. 
Charles S. Winslovv, Line Sergeants Arthur VV. Hargraves 
and George W. H. Allen, Corporals Young, Tanner, and 
Alexander. Capt. George E. Randolph relates in his report : 
"A wound that I received in the shoulder early in the action 
prevented my being as active on the field as I desired, and, 
although I was able from time to time to ride along the line, 
and to keep informed of the progress of the battle in the va- 
rious parts of the field where my batteries were stationed, I 
could not give the line the same personal attention I would, 
had I been stronger." 

Capt. John K. Bucklyn, who was then lieutenant command- 
ing, had two horses shot under him while the battery was in 
the first position near the Peach Orchard. When General 
Barksdale and his Mississippi soldiers were near the battery, 
General Graham, at the instance of Captain Randolph, moved 
to the front of the battery with his Pennsylvania troops, thus 
allowing the battery to fall back. While this movement was 
being executed, and after the infantry had renewed the fight, 
another horse was shot under him, and, at the same time, a 
shrapnel went through his left lung, rendering his left side 
useless and choking him with blood. Although anticipating 
that his wound would prove mortal, he persisted in going to 
the rear with the battery, desiring, should his wound be fatal, 
to die with his command. General Birney, who was then in 



212 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

command of the corps, gave orders for the artillery officers 
to be sent to the rear, ordering, at the same time. Lieutenant 
Jastram to take temporary command of the battery. 

Sergt. John Slocum writes that at the battle of Gettys- 
burg, he "was acting as orderly for Lieutenant Bucklyn. 
After Bucklyn was wounded I went with him to a barn that 
was being used as a hospital, but there being so much groan- 
ing and suffering Bucklyn could not endure it. I then took 
him to a place beside a fence, and, obtaining some lint and 
bandages, dressed his wound the best I could. I then took 
off my jacket for a pillow, and gave him my blanket to keep 
him comfortable. In the morning I secured an ambulance 
and carried him, with Captain Randolph, to Westminster, 
where they took the train for Baltimore, and from there 
home." 

Captain Bucklyn, writing about the events which followed 
his being wounded, says : " After leaving the hospital we 
went out by the roadside, and I told Slocum that if he could 
bring me milk I thought I could live. He feared to leave 
me, but did so, and returned probably about eleven o'clock 
with milk, which he fed to me at short intervals until morn- 
ing. Slocum and our ambulance driver helped Randolph, 
Seeley, and myself to Westminster. He put me into a car 
on my cot- During the night a soldier put me on to some 
coffins and occupied my cot. I arrived in Baltimore, where I 
received a most cordial welcome, on Sunday. I arrived in 
Providence, Monday afternoon. George B. Jastram took me 
in his arms from the car and carried me to a carriage." 

Second Lieutenant Freeborn, who commanded the right 
section, was slightly wounded, but did not leave the field. 
He had two horses wounded under him. 

First Sergeant Charles S. Winslow, who was in command 
of the centre section, was severely wounded in the back. It 
happened while the battery was retiring from the field. He 
never returned to the battery, but Avas transferred to the Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps, Feb. i, 1864. Previous to entering 
the Veteran Reserve Corps he received a commission as sec- 
ond lieutenant in the Fourteenth Regiment (colored), but 
failed to pass on account of physical disability. He contin- 
ued in feeble health until his death, Dec. 30, 1873. He was 
one of the battery's best soldiers and was highly esteemed by 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 213 

all his comrades. His wife was the sister of our comrade, 
Herbert F. Bennett. Two children were left to the care of 
their devoted mother. Sergt, Arthur W. Hargraves, of the 
third piece, was wounded in the left arm, ""and although 
obliged to carry his arm in a sling, he refused to be excused 
from duty. 

George W. H. Allen, sergeant of the fifth piece, was hit in 
the head by a spent bullet, from the effect of which he nearly 
fell from his horse, but was assisted to his position by one of 
his drivers. Recovering soon from the shock, he resumed 
his duties without further trouble. Speaking of the event, 
he said that when he had partially recovered from the shock 
he put his hand to his head, and feeling a bunch on one side, 
he thought he had been shot through his head. To satisfy 
himself he put up the other hand to find the hole where the 
ball came out, but he soon realized he was acting under a de- 
lusion. 

Corp. James A. Tanner was wounded slightly over the eye ; 
Corporals Richard Alexander and Luther L. Young were 
wounded slightly. The following privates were wounded : 
Crawford A. Sayles, severely ; George H. Kelley, severely : 
Richard Rose, severely ; Martin Brown, severely, and trans- 
ferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, Oct 31, 1863; Oliver 
Skinner, severely in arm ; never returned from the hospital ; 
Edmund M. Jackson, severely in leg; Luther Childs, quite 
badly ; Albert Saunders, severely ; Michael Ruble, severely 
in back ; Patrick Hogan, slightly; Gould E. Utter, slightly ; 
William Kain, severely in side; John McKenna, slightly ; 

Samuel Havens, slightly ; Israel Riley, slightly ; 

Jevvett, slightly ; Lory Strait, severely, and transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Oct. 31, 1863. 

Captain Randolph, in his report of the corps artillery, 
modestly refers to his own battery in these words : " Ran- 
dolph's Battery E, First Rhode Island, was placed in position 
to counteract a cross fire from the woods in front of the Em- 
mitsburg road upon Ames's battery, and the troops in the 
Peach Orchard were immediately engaged with the enemy, 
composed of infantry and a battery of twelve-pounders in 
front and a little to the left of its position. Tlie very effect- 
ive fire of the battery of six light twelve-pounders did great 
damage to our lines until it was silenced by the fire of Ran- 



2 14 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [JuJj. 

dolph's battery and a section of Ames's that had been turned 
upon it. Randolph's battery remained in this position, doing 
good service but greatly exposed, as the returns attest, until 
the withdrawal of its supports to strengthen the Peach 
Orchard, and the subsequent repulse of our troops in that 
position made its withdrawal a matter not only of prudence, 
but of necessity. Lieut. John K. Bucklyn, commanding, re- 
ceived a painful wound while endeavoring to take from the 
field a caisson, some of the horses of which had been killed. 
It is proper that I acknowledge here the valuable aid 
rendered me by Lieutenant Jastram, acting assistant adjutant- 
general of my brigade, whose duties were rendered more 
arduous by my own inability to keep the saddle, and who dis- 
played the same energy, bravery, and good judgment that he 
had already given evidence of as a battery commander." 

The following report of Lieutenant Freeborn is given en- 
tire : 

Near Warrentox, Va., \ 
July 28, 1S63. J 

Sir : I have the honor to report the following as the part taken in the 
action near Gettysburg by this command : On the morning of July 2d the 
battery \vas in position in the second line of battle under the command of 
First Lieut. John K. Bucklyn, remaining there without firing until three 
p. M., when it was ordered to the tVont. We moved up and took a posi- 
tion near the Emmitsburg road under a heavy artillery fire from the 
enemy. Commenced firing immediately and succeeded in silencing sev- 
eral of the enemy's guns, but thev soon opened from different points, and 
owing to the peculiar formation of the line we were at times exposed to a 
heavv cross fire. The right section was detached from the rest of the bat- 
tery and operated on the road near a small house. ^Ve were somewhat 
annoved by sharpshooters, who were in a barn in front of the section, but 
dislodged them by a shell or two. The enemy appeared to have massed 
their infantry on the left of the battery, and the fighting was severe there, 
so that our supports were either sent to that point or some other, as for 
twenty minutes before we left the battery was without any support, and 
nothing in front but a few sharpshooters. Some of them reported to me 
that the enemy was advancing in line in a ravine in front, probably with 
a view of charging on the battery. Nearly at the same time the artillery 
and infantry on our lel't fell back. It was deemed best to withdraw the 
batterv, which was done, the enemy appearing within a few yards of us 
and delivering a heavy musketry fire, from which we suffered severely. 
We abandoned our caisson tor want of horses, but regained it when our 
forces reoccupied the ground. 

Lieutenant Bucklyn being wounded in coming off the field, the com- 
mand devolved upon me, and the battery was ordered to the rear, and 
being badly cut up did not participate in any of the subsequent fighting. 

The casualties were as follows, viz. : Two officers wounded, tliree en- 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 215 

listed men killed and twentj-four wounded, seventeen horses killed and 
twenty-three disabled and abandoned. 

Respectt'ully, 

BENJAMIN FREEBORN, 

Secoiiii Lienlenant First R. I. Light Artillery, Commntiding Battery 

Lieut. P. S. Jastram, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Artillery Brigade, Third Army Corps. 

It is probable that Freeborn accidentally omitted to men- 
tion the two men mortally wounded, as they had been sent to 
the hospital, and doubtless died during the night or the next 
day. On a memorial of the battery they are recorded as 
dying on the day of the battle, and if so the battery really 
lost five killed. Freeborn refers to the right section as being 
detached from the rest of the battery. In this statement it 
is uncertain to which he refers, the left section, which was on 
the right of the line, or the right section, which was on the 
left of the line, both at times being thrown forward on the 
road. The distance in either case was only a few yards. 

The non-commissioned officers in this famous battle were : 

First piece, Sergt. Seth B. Darling and Corporals James 
Donnelly and Richard Alexander. 

Second piece, Sergt. George Humphrey, Corp. Allen Gard- 
ner. Herbert F. Bennett, the other corporal on that piece, 
was absent on sick furlough. 

Third piece, Sergt. Arthur W. Hargraves, Corporals James 
A. Tanner and Ernest Simpson. 

Fourth piece, Corp. Thomas T. Beard, acting sergeant ; 
Corporals John J. Mulhall and Luther L. Young; the latter 
may have served on the second instead. 

Fifth piece, Sergt. George \V. H. Allen, Corporals Lester 
S. Hill and George Lewis. 

Sixth piece, Sergt. Charles P. Williams, Corporals Edward 
A. Chandler and John M. Battey. 

Nearly all these sergeants were unhorsed either by their 
being wounded or their horses being turned over to the com- 
missioned officers. Sergeant Allen's horse was ridden by 
Lieutenant Bucklyn at the time he was wounded. Sergeant 
Humphreys's horse was shot just as the battery was leaving 



2l6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

the field. Sergeant Hargraves's horse, as before stated, was 
also wounded. The great loss in officers' horses was due, in 
part, to so man}' of the officers not dismounting during the 
battle. This unnecessary exposure by the commanding 
officers may on some occasions be necessary, but the writer 
feels justified in saying that the men of Battery E needed no 
such example to stimulate them to the performance of the 
brave duties required in this battle. There were, doubtless, 
many examples of personal courage exhibited by the mem- 
bers on each piece. One illustration will give the spirit of 
all. During a lull in the firing the men were strongly advised 
to seek as much protection as possible. On the fifth piece 
the men had complied with this advice with the exception of 
William H. Phinney, who, as his battery comrades will re- 
member, had a habit of folding his arms across his chest and 
at the sametmie rocking on his feet. At that time the bul- 
lets and exploding shells made it decidedly undesirable to 
cover any more space than necessary, but not so with Phin- 
ney, for when being remonstrated wath by Corporal Hill for 
continuing his habit while exposed to the fire of the enemy, 
he replied in a cool and unconcerned manner, "O I am just 
as safe here as anywhere." In this case it may have been 
true, for only a minute or so after a rebel shell exploded 
directly over the piece behind which the cannoneers were 
sheltered, and although none were hit, all had a narrow escape 
from the flying missiles. 

During the battle of the second day, the battery wagon, 
driven by John R. Brayton, the traveling forge, drawn by six 
mules, under the charge of Elias H. Mathewson, and the 
spare horses, were left in the rear, as usual during an engage- 
ment. The men on duty in this responsible part of the bat- 
tery service were George I. Cole, harness maker, and Albert 
A. Hopkins, blacksmith, assisted by William S. Blair. The 
company stores and rations were looked after by Quarter- 
master Sergt. Benjamin N. Remington, and the extra horses 
were taken care of by Joseph D. Haney, farrier, assisted by 
Nelson Lovell, Albert M. Bennett, and others, whose names 
are not recalled. Usually this part of the battery service es- 
caped the dangers of a battle, but at this action they were not 
as fortunate, as the rebel shots overreached our lines and 
passed through their camp. The next morning, while chang- 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 217 

ing their position, they were still more severely shelled, but, 
fortunately, escaped unharmed from the unwelcome missiles. 

Having detailed the honorable part borne by Battery E in 
the second day's fight, let us return to the scenes which sub- 
sequently followed that bloody struggle. It will be remem- 
bered that, at the closing of the second day's battle, the 
enemy had attacked our right, and had actually captured 
some of our works on Gulp's Hill. General Geary, who had 
left the captured works the night before to reinforce the left, 
says Doubleday, "returned with his division about midnight, 
and was not a little astonished to find the rebels established 
in the works he had left. He determined to contest posses- 
sion with them at daylight. . . . On the other hand, 
Ewell having obtained a foothold, swore he would not be 
driven out, and hastened to reinforce Johnson with Daniels's 
and O'Neill's brigades from Rodes's division." 

At daylight our artillery opened upon them. To this, John- 
son, having no artillery, could not reply, but promptly charged, 
with "Stonewall's" old brigade leading. "They were met," 
says the same author, " by Kane's brigade, of Geary's division, 
and a close and severe struggle ensued for four hours among 
the trees and rocks. Rugei"'s division of the Twelfth corps 
came up and formed on the rebel left, taking them in flank 
and threatening them in reverse. ... At about eleven 
A. M., finding the contest hopeless, and his retreat threatened 
by a force sent down to Rock Creek, Johnson yielded, slowly 
and reluctantly, to a charge made by Geary's division, gave 
up the position, and withdrew to Rock Creek, where he re- 
mained until night." 

This ended the struggle on our right. In the meantime 
both of these veteran armies were reforming their lines, and 
preparing for the supreme effort, which culminated in the 
great historic effort known as "Pickett's charge." 

As the attacks upon our extremities had each failed, Lee 
had, after a careful survey of the situation, decided to make 
the supreme effort to break the centre of our line. The point 
selected was that held by the right of the Second corps, and 
directly in front of Brown's and Arnold's Rhode Island bat- 
teries, the distance being one mile to the right of the Peach 
Orchard. Pickett's division, which had not yet been engaged, 
and which was composed of the best of the Virginia troops, was 



2l8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

selected to make the supreme effort, which Lee hoped would 
give him a great victory and compensate for the loss sus- 
tained on the two previous days' battle. General Longstreet, 
to whose corps General Pickett's division belonged, was not 
in favor of this attack, and made an effort to persuade Lee 
that it would be better to renew the effort to turn the Fed- 
erals' left. " No," Lee said, " I am going to take them where 
they are on Cemetery Hill. I want you to take Pickett's 
division and make the attack. I will reinforce you by two 
divisions (Heth's, under Pettigrew, and Pender's, under 
Trimble) of the Third corps." 

"That will give me 15,000 men," Longstreet replied. "I 
have been a soldier, I may say, from the ranks up to the po- 
sition I now hold, . . . and I think I can safely say that 
there never was a body of 15,000 men who could make that 
attack successfully." Longstreet said no more, and he 
writes : " I went to work at once to arrange my troops for 
the attack." At one o'clock all was ready, the signal of two 
guns was fired, and immediately, says Comte de Paris, "one 
hundred and thirty-eight pieces of cannon therefore obey 
Longstreet's signal." 

Longstreet further writes: "The signal guns broke the 
prevailing stillness, and immediately 150 Confederate cannon 
burst into a deafening roar, which was answered by a thun- 
der almost as great from the Federal side. . . . The 
thunder on Seminary Ridge and the echo from the Federal 
side showed that both commanders were ready." 

To this fire the eighty guns posted by General Hunt re- 
sponded, and for two hours the deafening roar was continued, 
which caused great suffering on both sides. At three p. m., 
General Hunt, in order to save ammunition and cool the 
guns, ordered the artillery to cease firing. The enemy, sup- 
posing that our guns had been silenced, at once ordered the 
advance of Pickett's command. While Pickett was forming 
his lines. General Hunt hastily withdrew the injured batteries, 
and supplied their places with others from the reserve artil- 
lery. No sooner had the enemy formed his lines than he 
emerged from the wood, where his troops were formed, and 
commenced that fatal movement which resulted so disastrously 
to his brave troops. De Trobriand, in writing of this grand 
movement, says : " It was a splendid sight. The skirmish- 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 219 

ers, at regular intervals, advanced first, covering the whole 
front of the attacking body. Behind them Pickett's division 
formed in two lines, having on his left Heth's division, and 
on his right Wilcox's brigade, in column of regiments. They 
were fully fifteen to eighteen thousand men. They advanced 
towards us,* and our men awaited their approach. 

When they were within easy reach of case shot, our artil- 
lery opened on them a crushing fire, which mowed down their 
ranks, but did not stop them ; on the contrary, they came on 
the faster, only obliquing to the left under the fierce play of 
projectiles on their right by eight batteries, under the direc- 
tion of Major McGilvery. Our men still looked on them ad- 
vancing, counting the gaps made in their ranks, and feeling 
that they w^ere getting full revenge for Fredericksburg. 

The first had arrived at about one hundred and fifty yards 
from the line of the Second corps when the front of Hay's 
and Gibbon's divisions burst into a sheet of flame and re- 
doubled the carnage by a rolling fire, which was the signal 
for the Confederates to charge. Everything rushed forward. 
The ranks were melted together and formed, thenceforth, a 
raging mass of men, running, rolling and tumbling forward, 
and through which the cannon opened great lanes. The offi- 
cers, with swords uplifted, marched in the front ranks ; the 
colonels guided to the front their regiments torn by canister. 
Their yells were heard above the noise of the artillery and 
musketry, and they came on like waves against a rocky shore. 
It was their last effort. 

They struck first on two regiments of Webb's brigade 
covered by a light stone wall. They threw themselves against 
the obstacles with great impetuosity, beating down the troops 
which defended them, and with a few bounds were amongst 
the guns. Our men, dislodged from the first line, ran to join 
the regiments of the second line, and turned with them 
against the assailants. During some minutes they fought 
there over the pieces with gunshots, with bayonets, with butts 
of muskets, and with ramrods, and the ground was literally 
covered with dead and wounded. 

To the left of the point of attack Stannard was placed with 
a brigade of Doubleday's division. Profiting by his position, 
which was the most salient on that part of the line, he 
charged forward and opened a deadly fire on the right flank 



220 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

of the assailants. Almost immediately the left of Gibbons 
made a similar movement ; then, under the direction of Gen- 
eral Hancock, present in the action, the whole force threw it- 
self on the enemy's column. It was the coup de grace. At- 
tacked in their turn on one side, turned on the other and 
almost surrounded, the remnant of Pickett's division threw 
down their arms and surrendered. 

Heth's division had not been able to break the right of the 
Second corps. It had been itself broken against the resist- 
ance of Hayes, and also left a multitude of prisoners in our 
hands. 

All who thought they could get away took the backward 
course through a fire of canister, which brought down half 
of them to the ground. I saw places where, being crushed 
together, the dead were absolutely left piled one upon another. 

Wilcox's Confederate brigade, which seemed to be held in 
reserve on the right of Pickett's division, then advanced in 
its turn, perhaps to protect the fugitives by a diversion, but 
the artillery fire was enough to stop it, and a last charge of 
two regiments of Stannard sufficed to disperse it and take 
from it a goodly number of prisoners. 

This ended the effort of Lee to break through our centre. 
Previous to and during the progress of Pickett's charge, 
there was some severe fighting by our cavalry and artillery 
on our right and left flank. After Johnson had been driven 
from Gulp's Hill in the morning, where Lee hoped he would 
be able to hold on, so that if our centre was broken by Pick- 
ett's troops, his position would give him an opportunity to 
harrass our fleeing troops, he failed to sustain his hold. 
The rebel cavalry under Stuart was sent to be used for that 
•purpose instead. It was by that movement that our cavalry 
was brought into contact with Stuart's. During the after- 
noon Robertson's and Law's brigades advanced on the left 
against the two Round Tops to prevent reinforcements from 
being sent to meet Pickett's charge. Fortunately a portion 
of our ca\'alry, under Kilpatrick, appeared with the intention 
of capturing the rebel ammunition train, which was parked 
in that vicinity, and although they failed to capture the train, 
it doubtless prevented another attack upon the Round Tops, 
and also prevented reinforcements being sent to Longstreet's 
support. It was in this attack that the brave and daring 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 221 

Farnsworth was killed, while making his famous charge with 
his Vermont cavalry. 

The battle of Gettysburg was now ended, so far as fight- 
ing was concerned, but the consequences which followed will 
not end so long as history lasts. As the battle of Waterloo 
resulted in crushing Napoleon and the grinding despotism 
that he was exercising in Europe, so did the battle of Gettys- 
burg, in checking the defiant army of the Confederates, 
whose purpose was to capture Baltimore and Washington, 
thereby dictating to us the most humiliating terms of peace. 
A defeat of Meade's army would, to say the least, have been 
followed by nothing less than . the recognition of the South 
by the powers of Europe, thereby establishing upon the con- 
tinent of America a nation founded upon the cruel and bar- 
barous system of slavery. 

Through the night of the 2d of July and during the fol- 
lowing day. Battery E, being so badly crippled, was held in 
reserve in the rear. Early in the morning, the men who 
were scattered during the retreat of the day before, began to 
arrive, many of whom it was feared were either killed or 
taken prisoners. Two or three times during the day we 
changed our position, finally settled for the day a little dis- 
tance in rear of Round Top. The centre section was tem- 
porarily consolidated with the other two sections, and this, 
with the addition of what serviceable spare horses we had, 
made it possible for us to have rendered some service had 
we been called upon. Some of the battery men visited the 
barns and orchard to which our wounded were carried, among 
whom were several of our battery comrades. The sufferings 
of the wounded and the horror attending the amputations 
which our brave men were undergoing, were almost unen- 
durable. 

July 4th, we hitched up at daylight and remained on the 
field all day. Early in the day rumors that the enemy was 
retreating, and as often contradicted, were in constant circu- 
lation, and reports that Longstreet and A. P. Hill were killed 
were rife, but were eventually disproved. 

July 5th, we continued in the same place. It was now 
known that the rebel army had withdrawn its left from the 
town to beyond Seminary Ridge, and that the whole rebel 
force would soon be on the retreat was quite certain. A 



2 22 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

ramble over the battle ground by many of our battery men 
revealed very forcibly 'the horrible sufferings which followed 
this battle. Large numbers of the dead were yet unburied, 
and sadder still was the fact that many of the wounded were 
waiting to be carried to the field hospitals. It was not until 
the 5th that Corporal Simpson and others of our battery 
were buried. The bones of these brave and beloved com- 
rades lie now in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg. The 
Confederates continued their retreat, which they began on 
the night of the 4th, and reached Hagerstown on the 6th 
and 7th, on their way to Williamsport and Falling Waters, 
where they crossed on the 13th and 14th; Ewell's corps at 
the former, and Longstreet and Hill's at the latter. Lee's 
army was delayed in crossing the river for nearly a week on 
account of the high water, and while so doing was confronted 
by our forces, who intended to have attacked it on the 14th, 
but on advancing it was found that the enemy had crossed 
the river. 

July 6th, the battery hitched up about six a. m., and moved 
up to the battle ground, where we fought on the second day, 
and remained during the day and night. Some of the non- 
commissioned officers and privates visited Gettysburg, and all 
had a survey of the rebel position in our front. A small 
house which stood near our location, but between the lines, 
was visited with much interest on account of its being occu- 
pied during the battle by the ladies living there. They told 
us that during the progress of the battle they retired to the 
cellar, and were not at all injured, although solid shot passed 
through the building. That their courage was superior to 
some of the soldiers that surrounded them will not be de- 
nied. 

There were yet many unburied rebels lying upon the fields, 
and these neglected dead revealed one of the darkest pict- 
ures of the barbarity and cruelty of war, and confirmed the 
fact that our civilization is yet on a low plane. The losses in 
this battle were terrible, as the following figures, given by 
the official records, will show : 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 223 

The loss of the 1st corps was 6,059; of these, 2,079 were taken prisoners. 

" 2d " " 4,369: '■ " 365 ' 

" 3d " " 4,2u; " " 575 " " 

" 5th " " 2,187; " " 210 " 

" 6th " '• 242; " '• 30 " '' '• 

" nth" " 3,Soi; " " 1,448 " " 

" i2th" '■ 1.082; " " 64 " •' 

The cavahy loss was . . 852; " " 399 '• '' " 

Tlie artillery reserve loss was 242; " " 12 " " " 

The army headq'ters loss was 4 ; 



Total loss being . . 23,049 5' 1,82 

Humphrey's Second division lost 2,092. Birney's old di- 
vision lost 2,011 ; of these Graham's brigade lost 740, Ward's 
brigade, 781 ; De Trobriand's brigade, 490. The losses in 
Randolph's artiller\' brigade were : Clark's New Jersey bat- 
tery, 20; Winslow's First New York battery, 18; Smith's 
Fourth New York, 13 ; Bucklyn's E, First Rhode Island, 30, 
and Seeley's Battery K, Fourth United States, 25. 'The 
official record of the Confederate losses are as follows, viz. : 

Longstreet's ist army corps,. ..... 7.539 

EwelTs 2d army corps, ....... 5-937 

A. P. Hill's 3d army corps, ...... 6,735 

Stuart's cavalry division, ...... 240 



Total, 20,451 

Alexander's battalion of reserve artillery, composed of the 
following six batteries, Jordan's, Moody's, Parker's, Rhett"s,* 
Taylor's, and Woolfolk's, was stationed within range of Bat- 
tery E and the Peach Orchard, and their total loss was 139. 

The maximum strength of the Union army, June 30th, was 
101,679. Its actual fighting strength was about 93,500. The 
maximum strength of the Confederate army, according to the 
best calculations, was 77,518. Its fighting strength, as com- 
puted by the best authorities, was about 70,000 of all arms. 
The total loss of officers, killed and mortally wounded, in the 
Union army was 338, among them being Generals Reynolds, 
Farnsworth, Weed, Zook, and Vincent. Among the Union 
wounded were Generals Hancock, Sickles, Birney, slightly. 
Barlow, and Graham, the latter being taken prisoner after he 
was wounded. Among the rebel generals killed and mortally 
wounded during this invasion of Pennsylvania were Barks- 

* The official records has it Gilbert's instead of Rliett's, but Batclielder's battlefield map 
gives it as above. 



224 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [J^'y, 

dale, Gannett, Armistead, Pender, and Pettigrew, the latter 
being killed on the retreat. 

Rhode Island was represented by the Second regiment and 
Batteries A, B, C, E, and G. The Second regiment was only 
slightly engaged, losing but 7 men. Batteries C and G, al- 
though engaged, had no loss. Battery A lost a total of 32, 
and Battery B, 28. These figures are taken from the official 
records. 

One of the lieutenants of Battery B, Joseph S. Milne, who 
was mortally wounded during this battle, will be remembered 
by the older members of Battery E as being one of its first 
sergeants. Just previous to the beginning of the Gettysburg 
campaign, he was detached to serve in Battery A, Fourth 
United States Artillery, better known as " Cushing's battery." 
During Pickett's charge, Lieutenant Milne was shot through 
the left lung, and died five days after, on July 8th, at Gettys- 
burg. His body was taken to Fall River, where his parents 
then lived, under the charge of Lieutenant Lamb, of Battery 
A, Rhode Island. 

An extract from the Fall River News, of July 17, 1863, says : 
"The funeral services over the remains of this gallant young 
officer took place this afternoon at the Baptist Temple. 
A large congregation assembled, and the exercises, conducted 
by the Rev. Charles A. Snow, pastor of the church, were very 
impressive. The choir sang the pathetic dirge, * Put me 
down gently, boys,' founded on the words uttered by a cap- 
tain of the Sixteenth Ohio, as his shattered body was taken to 
the rear, and he was laid in the shade of a tree to die. The 
body was dressed in the uniform of his rank, and upon the 
casket encasing it rested his sword and the flag wreathed 
with flowers. A few of his comrades-in-arms, among whom 
was Captain Randolph, were present at the funeral. . . . 
At an early age he entered the office of the Glens Falls (N, Y.) 
Messenger, a religious paper, published at that time by his 
father, the Rev. A. D. Milne. Subsequently, he removed to 
Fall River, and became a compositor in the Daily Neivs office, 
where he was employed for about two years. Leaving here, 
he took a situation on the Providence Daily Post, which he 
held up to the breaking out of the war, when he joined Bat- 
tery E, and was appointed sergeant." 




Lieut. Joseph S. Milne. 



1863] FIRST R.I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 225 

The Providence papers referred to him in terms of high es- 
teem and respect. The obituary in the Fall River Daily Nczvs 
was long, and paid to his memory the highest praise. Gen. 
John G. Hazard was then captain of his battery and chief of 
artillery in the Second corps, and in his report he tenderly re- 
fers to Milne in these words : "Lieutenant Joseph S. Milne, 
First Rhode Island Light Artillery, was mortally wounded 
on the afternoon of July 3d by a musket shot through the 
lungs. He survived his wound one week and breathed his 
last at Gettysburg on July loth.* In his regiment he 
was noted for his bravery and willingness to encounter death 
in any guise, while his modesty and manliness gained for him 
the ready esteem of his many comrades. His death is a loss 
to all, and we cannot but mourn that so bright a life should 
thus suddenly be veiled in death." His mother, in writing 
to the author, says that she hastened to Gettysburg immedi- 
ately after the news of his being wounded was received, but 
she was too late, as his death occurred before her arrival. 
His only regret was that he could not live until his mother 
arrived. On being told that he could live but a few hours, he 
said to the lady who was attending him: "Comfort my 
mother when she comes, and tell her that I died doing my 
duty." At the time of his death he was only twenty years 
old. He was the only Rhode Island officer that was killed 
in the battle of Gettvsburg. 

July 7th, reveille at one a. m., preparatory to our departure 
from the battlefield. About daylight we moved up the road 
near to Sherfy's house, to which we paid a visit, finding it 
badly shattered from the effect of cannon shot. At about 
seven a. m. we bade a joyful farewell to the victorious field 
from which we believed great results would follow, but not 
without mingled emotions of sadness for the loss of our com- 
rades left behind us. For their brave and gallant conduct 
the State of Rhode Island erected, on July 2, 1886, a suita- 
ble monument to commemorate the honorable part borne by 
them on that memorable day, an account of which will be 
found in the Appendix. 

* General H.-iziird is mistaken in the date. His molher ui>on ariivina: at Gettysburg 
learned that her son died on Wednesday, the Sth. 

irj 



226 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Ju'y- 



CHAPTER XVII. 

July 7 to November 1, 1863. 

General Lee Recrosses the Potomac. — Camp at Sul- 
phur Sprlngs. — Lee Pursued to Culpepper. — 
Meade is Flanked and Retires to 
Fairfax Court-House. 

BEFORE leaving the battlefield in pursuit of the retreat- 
ing enemy, owing to a deficiency of officers, Sergeant 
Hargraves was acting lieutenant in command of the 
centre section. Sergt. Seth B. Darling was acting first ser- 
geant, vice Winsiow absent, wounded, and Corporal Donnelly 
was acting sergeant of first piece in Darling's place. After 
starting we crossed Marsh Creek, passing through Emmits- 
burg, and encamped eight miles beyond at Mechanicsville. 

July 8th, left Mechanicsville and marched in the rain to 
Frederick City. Corporal Bennett, who had been on an ex- 
tended sick furlough since May 2ist, returned, looking well, 
and received the welcome greetings of his comrades. A spy 
was executed by hanging, and left on exhibition as a warning 
to others. Gen. A. A. Humphreys was appointed chief of 
staff of the Army of the Potomac, and was succeeded in com- 
mand of the Second division by Gen. Henry Prince. 

July 9th, marched to Middletown and encamped. Gen. 
William H. French, an old regular army officer, assumed 
command of our corps, his assignment dating July 7th. His 
appointment was a great disappointment to the Third corps 
troops, who were anxious that General Birney should be the 
successor of the gallant Sickles. French brought his com- 
mand of some seven thousand troops with him, which formed 
a new Third division to the Third corps. This corjis was now 
the largest, excepting the Sixth, in the Army of the Potomac. 
The army was moving on the flank of the retreating enemy, 
who were now at and near Williamsport. 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 22/ 

July loth, remained at Middletown. July nth, left Mid- 
dletown and passed over the South Mountain to Boonsboro, 
with the intention of striking the enemy's flank. Remained 
over night, and, with a portion of our troops, returned the next 
day to Middletown, where we staid until the 15th. There 
was only one regiment of nine months troops left with us at 
Middletown, whose term of service expired on the i6th. In 
the meantime the Confederates had recrossed the Potomac. 

July 15th, left Middletown by way of Jefferson towards 
Harper's Ferry, reaching Petersville, about seven miles from 
the Ferry, and went into camp. 

July 1 6th, left camp at six a. m., for Knoxville, from there 
to Sandy Hook, then up Pleasant Valley about two miles, and 
parked for the night. The country was beautiful and ro- 
mantic. Our battery rejoined its corps July 17th. Left 
Pleasant Valley at nine p. m., in the rain, and marched all 
night, and only moved about two miles. Some of the men slept 
by the roadside during the intervals when halting. Resumed 
our march on the i8th, and passed through Sandy Hook to 
Harper's Ferry, and crossed about sunrise over the Potomac 
on pontoons, and the Shenandoah by bridge. As the troops 
and brigade bands passed the famous arsenal in which John 
Brown was captured, the former sang, and the latter played 
"John Brown's Body," etc., probably much to the disgust of 
the few remaining rebels ; but to our troops it was a day long 
to be remembered. After marching about eight miles, we 
halted near a saw-mill for the night. Edmund M. Jackson, 
one of our wounded at Gettysburg, returned and resumed his 
duties. 

July 19th, marched to within two miles of Snicker's Gap, 
and on the 20th resumed our march through Snickersville, 
then on through Uppersville near the mouth of Ashby Gap. 
Being in the advance, we had an opportunity of gathering all 
the blackberries we needed, which served as a very enjoyable 
dessert. The right section marched to-day with the Second 
division. Remained here through the following day. 

July 22d, marched to Piedmont, a small hamlet on the 
Manassas Gap Railroad, some six miles from Manassas Gap, 
where there was skirmishing with the enemy, who were at- 
tempting to pass through. 



228 • HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [ J"ly. 

July 23d, the Third corps was engaged in preventing the 
enemy from advancing through the Gap. The First and Sec- 
ond divisions were quite severely engaged and were success- 
ful in driving the enemy back, their loss being 105. Our bat- 
tery advanced to near the Gap, but were not engaged. The 
writer, who had been sick since leaving Middletown and had 
ridden a part of the way in the ambulance, was advised by 
Dr. Smith to go to the hospital. Although unable to go any 
further, he did not wish to leave his comrades and go among 
strangers at the hospital. Oar company ambulance had been 
sent forward to the scene of action, but by the kindness of 
the doctor he was put into an ambulance of some other com- 
mand and permitted to remain with or near the battery. In 
the course of a few days he was able to care for himself. An 
incident occurred while riding in the ambulance in company 
with others, one of whom was Dr. William H. White. 
Thinking some blackberries would relish, the writer, during a 
halt, gathered a hatful, and fearing he might be left, ate none 
while picking them, and, after reaching the ambulance, think- 
ing to please the sick doctor, the hat was passed to him, and, 
without thanking the donor he proceeded to eat them all, re- 
turning only the empty hat. The reader may judge for him- 
self if the hat was transferred at the next filling. 

July 24th, the enemy having retreated from the Gap, our 
troops with Battery E. moved back to near Piedmont, and re- 
mained until the next day, when the march was resumed, 
passing through Salem to within eight miles of Warrenton, 
where we went into camp. 

July 26th, marched to Warrenton and went into camp two 
miles west of the town, remaining here until the first of 
August. Our horses having been without grain for several 
days and many of them being very much reduced, nineteen 
of them were turned in. During our stay here our carriages 
and harnesses were washed and a general cleaning up fol- 
lowed. 

August 1st, left camp early in the forenoon and marched to 
within about three miles of Bealton Station. 

August 2d, moved our camp about a half mile into some 
woods, in order to protect ourselves and horses from the ex- 
cessive heat. 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 229 

"VVe remained in this camp until the i6th of August, and dur- 
ing that time the hot weather was constant, with frequent 
thunder showers. Our camp was arranged quite comfortably. 
On the 8th eighteen recruits arrived, a good percentage of 
them being Germans. As a whole they were good soldiers. 
The names of these recruits were Otto Wilder, Martin Bran- 
nan, Richard Clabby, Henry Gerber, Herman Greene, Emile 
Helf rich, William Long (his correct name was Albers), Joseph 
Payne, Charles Possin, William H. Paine, Henry Rang, 
Joseph Schult, Emile Thomas, Caleb B. Whitford, James 
Waters, George Black, William Whittemore, and one other 
whose name is not remembered. Four of these afterwards 
became non-commissioned officers. We had a few field drills 
while here, but the recruits were daily drilled at the manual 
of the piece by the sergeants and other officers of the com- 
pany. 

On the 13th we were inspected by Captain Randolph, who 
had returned to duty, having recovered from his wound re- 
ceived at Gettysburg. 

August i6th, we were paid for two months, after which we 
moved, per order, to Sulphur Springs, where our division had 
preceded us. The day was excessively hot and muggy, and 
to the sick it was a severe trial. We first went into camp on 
the flats, near the town, but on the i8th our battery was 
moved to the high land lying about one mile southeast of the 
town. Anticipating remaining here some time, we proceeded 
to arrange our camp accordingly. Our guns were placed in 
battery, having a range which covered the town and a large 
territory surrounding it. General Birney took for his head- 
quarters a part of the hotel of that once famous watering 
place. "Here," says Birney's biographer, "in theabscnceof 
more warlike amusements, the elegant young men of the staff 
make themselves agreeable by polite attentions to the 
ladies.'' 

The Collis Zouaves were detached to do guard duty at these 
headquarters, whose band enlivened the camp with their 
strains of inspiring music. No encampment of headquarter 
veterans ever had a more enjoyable month of rest than did 
those of General Birney's command. 

August 2 1st, we were happily surprised by the unexpected 
return of Lieutenant Bucklyn, whose severe wound, received 



230 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

at Gettysburg, would have justified his remaining away a 
much longer period. Had all the wounded been actuated by 
the same patriotic spirit many thousands would have been 
added to the Army of the Potomac. 

After our camp arrangements were about completed we re- 
sumed our field and manual drills, the latter nearly every 
day, more especially for the benefit of our recent recruits. 

August 25th. For the better protection of our horses 
from the scorching sun a covering of pine and cedar boughs 
was erected over them, supported by poles resting upon 
crotches, we being assisted in this work by a detail from 
the Fourth Maine Infantry. 

In the expectation of a prolonged stay here, our men were 
not long in writing home for supplies of good things to eat, 
to which prompt responses were generally received in the 
form of boxes filled with the articles sent for. In due time 
our camp was adorned with rows of cedar trees, which added 
very much to our comfort as they shielded us from the hot 
sun. 

August 31st, we were mustered for two months' pay. The 
monthly returns for August reported that First Sergt. C. S. 
Winslow, Lance Corp. L. L. Young, and Privates Martin 
Brown, George H. Kelley, Bradbury Boggs, Richard Rose, 
John F. Keegan, and Crawford A. Sayles were in the hospi- 
tal. Sergt. William Millen, Privates Hale, Polk, and John F. 
Simmons were on detached service, Sampson Burgess was 
discharged August 3d and Edward Bucklin, Jr., July 27th, 
both on surgeon certificates. 

September 4th. George Lewis was promoted from a lance 
to a full corporal. 

September 7th. Corps review at General P'rench's head- 
quarters, the reviewing officers being Generals Meade, French, 
Hunt and Pleasanton, with their staffs. 

September 9th. Corporal Alexander, for an unlucky nap 
while corporal of the guard, was reduced to the ranks, and 
private William S. Blair was promoted to fill the vacancy. 

September 13th. A division review by General l^irney, 
after which our battery was reviewed by Lieutenant Buck- 
lyn ; this was followed by the reception of orders to be ready 
to move at short notice. 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 23 1 

September 14th. Luther Childs and Albert Saunders re- 
turned, having been wounded at Gettysburg, both being de- 
tached from the Seventeenth Maine regiment. 

At this time the army of General Lee occupied the south 
side of the Rapidan, his cavalry being the last to cross, driven 
over by our cavalry and the Second corps on the 13th. 

September 15th. General Meade's army was now in mo- 
tion following the enemy, with the intention of bringing on 
an engagement, should a favorable opportunity present itself. 
It was now known that two divisions of Longstreet's corps 
had been sent west, only Pickett's division, which was on the 
James River remaining. About five p. isi., the order to join 
the forward movement reached the battery. Although a 
movement was looked for, this order caused quite a commo- 
tion in camp, and, having been pleasantly situated for so long 
a time, it was not easy to break camp in such hasty manner. 
By seven o'clock we bade farewell to this camp of a month or 
more of unusual pleasure, marched only about two miles, and 
then halted by the roadside until the next morning. At 
eight A. M. we resumed our march, crossed the Hedgeman's 
River at Freeman's Ford and continued our journey to the 
Courdyne or Aestham River, crossed it at Welford Ford, 
then marched to within three miles of Culpepper, and went 
into park. 

September 17th. Hitched up at daylight, and so remained 
until noon, then started and moved one mile and parked the 
battery upon a knoll near a saw-mill, where we staid until 
the 8th of October. In the meantime our camp was duly 
arranged and comfortable quarters were built, in part of 
boards obtained from the adjoining mill. Our stay here was 
marked by nothing of special interest. The weather at 
times was cold, and not having any extra blankets the nights 
were not over comfortable. 

October 8th, our battery moved one mile and encamped 
near General Birney's headquarters. Rumors were rife that 
General Lee was preparing for a movement of some kind, and, 
as the Eleventh and Twelfth army corps had been detached 
on the 24th of September to report to the Army of the 
Cumberland, it was not unexpected that General Lee would 
take advantage of their absence. It was therefore supposed 
that the rumored movement was for the purpose of moving 



232 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

his army around our right with the intention of reaching" our 
rear, cutting our communications and giving us battle at such 
points as would be to his advantage. 

As soon as these rumors were known to be facts, General 
Meade at once decided to put his army in motion, and move 
to the vicinity of Warrenton, and "attack Lee while crossing 
the Hedgeman at the Waterloo and Sulphur Springs cross- 
ings." Our troops began to move from near Culpepper "at 
three o'clock on the morning of the iith of October, and 
by night our troops were across the Rappahannock, extend- 
ing from Freeman's Ford to Kelly's Ford and covering the 
railroad." 

October loth. Battery went into position near our camp, 
remaining until dark, and then went into park until morning. 
On the nth, at eleven a. m., the battery marched for the 
Aestham River, and crossed at Welford's Ford, then marched 
to and crossed the Hedgeman River at Freeman's Ford, ar- 
riving there about midnight. 

Twice during the day our battery went into position, once 
to assist General Ruford's cavalry in driving the enemy's cav- 
alry from an attack upon one of our columns of infantry. 
This affair occurred near Brandy Station. 

October 12th. Remained with the Third corps near the 
Ford all day. 

October 13th. Started early, and passed through German- 
town, crossing the Warrenton Branch Railroad at Three Mile 
Station. The Third corps was in advance, with Bucklyn's 
battery near the front. Towards three o'clock in the after- 
noon we were about to enter the hamlet of Auburn when the 
head of our column was suddenly attacked from the left front. 
Colonel De Trobriand, who commanded the Third brigade, 
says : " French, who marched with our division, had neglected 
to have the ground in front of our column reconnoitered by 
an advance guard. We were thus ignorant of what force con- 
fronted us. The First brigade, commanded by Colonel Col- 
lis, was rapidly formed to the right. Mine, which followed, 
was developed in two lines to the left, while a section of ar- 
tillery (rebel) opened on the woods, from which a lively fire 
was maintained upon us. 

These dispositions taken, the order was given to the first 
line to charge. This was briskly done. On my side the 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 233 

Fifth Michigan and the First battalion of sharpshooters 
dashed forward on the run. The enemy had not time to give 
us a volley. We were upon him in an instant, and the woods 
were swept with little resistance. We found there only a 
brigade of dismounted cavalry. The rebels ran to their horses 
and disappeared, leaving in our hands only their dead and a 
few prisoners. 

Birney's biographer relates : " The division was immedi- 
ately formed, with Graham's brigade in the front line, the 
Sixty-third Pennsylvania, composed chiefly of conscripts, be- 
ing in the advance. General Birney, seeing this regiment 
waver, rode up rapidly and cried out, " Come on, boys, go into 
them. Charge ! " The regiment at once rallied and forced 
back the enemy. During this short, but stubborn encounter, 
the division lost eleven killed and forty-two wounded." 

Battery E unlimbered and prepared for action, but no shots 
were fired. The Tenth Massachusetts battery was less for- 
tunate, they having one man killed and some wounded. 

October 14th. Hitched up at an early hour, and, about 
sunrise, moved rapidly towards Bristoe Station. Before leav- 
ing, the enemy had begun to annoy us with artillery, and, in 
order to hasten the movements of the corps, the troops moved 
in several columns through the open fields, leaving the road 
for the artillery, which moved off upon the trot. Our battery 
marched through Bristoe Station and Manassas Junction to 
Centreville, reaching there at about three p. m. The left and 
centre sections, accompanied by Lieutenants Bucklyn and 
Allen, were at once ordered back to Bull Run, where it went 
into battery, remaining there through the night. 

After we had crossed Bull Run the Second corps, tempo- 
rarily under the command of General Warren, was attacked 
by Hill's corps, which had approached from the direction of 
Greenwich, and a severe battle ensued, in which tiie sturdy 
Second corps was victorious. In this affair the young gen- 
eral won for himself great honors, as his command had less 
than half the number of Hill's. As soon as Meade saw the 
situation he ordered the Third and Fifth corps to Warren's re- 
lief. These two corps had previously moved forward, although 
they had been instructed not to do so until the Second corps 
had arrived. Had these corps remained a more decided vic- 
tory would have been achieved. As it was, it virtually ended 



234 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

the pursuit by Lee. The Second corps lost in this action 
over four hundred men, and the Confederates, here and at 
Auburn, seven hundred and eighty-two. 

October 15th. Left Centreville with our corps for Fairfax 
Station, reachins^ thereabout noon. During our stay here a 
very pleasing affair occurred. General Sickles, thinking that 
a battle was imminent, came to ask that he might resume the 
command of his old gallant corps, but the commanding general 
thought him yet unable, as he could only walk with a crutch, 
and could not endure the pressure of an artificial leg. As 
soon as it became known that he was present all of his old 
regiments formed without arms along the route he must take 
to reach Birney's headquarters. Soon General Birney ap- 
peared with the maimed hero in a wagon drawn by four 
horses. "Their appearance," says De Trobriand," was the 
signal for a thunder of acclamation such as I have seldom 
heard. The wagon passed at a walk from one end to the 
other of the line ; explosions of hurrahs burst forth on the 
passage of the carriage, and were kept up long after it was at 
a distance. Caps were thrown into the air and the w-elcome 
was most enthusiastic. When the general had entered Bir- 
ney's tent, surrounded by the brigade commanders, the men 
assembled around in throngs for a long time giving expres- 
sion to their joy. The welcome given him by his two old 
divisions went far to console him for his disappointment." 

October i6th. For the first time in the history of the 
Third corps a man was shot, having been convicted on five 
charges, the first for deserting, the second, third and fourth 
and the fifth for giving information to the enemy. The 
whole division was marched to the field of execution and 
formed into a hollow square with open ranks, between which 
the culprit was marched, guarded, being preceded by a band 
playing the Dead March. It was a solemn scene. His 
name was Henry Beardsley, and he belonged to the Fifth 
Michigan, 

October 17th. Remained in camp. The Twentieth Indi- 
ana, one of our old admired regiments, returned from New 
York city, where it had been sent during the draft riots of 
July, 1863. We remained here until the 19th, when we 
started on our return in pursuit of the retreating enemy. 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 235 

We moved down the railroad through Union Mills to near 
Bristoe and went into park. 

October 20th, we marched through the pretty village of 
Greenwich and encamped two miles beyond for the night. 
Resumed our journey at eight a. m. next morning, passing- 
Auburn, and went into park near Cattlett Station. The 
rebels, as they retreated, made a general destruction of the 
railroad, which our troops rapidly repaired. 

October 22d. Moved battery into the woods near by and 
laid out our camp, thinking that we should remain for a short 
season. Samuel W. Austin reenlisted into our battery on the 
23d. He was detached to us from the Third Maine Infantry 
in May, 1863. Here we remained until the 26th, when, at 
eleven p. m., we moved with Birney's division about one mile 
and again went into camp. 

October 27th, the right and centre sections were ordered on 
picket duty at a crossing on Cedar Run, and they were joined 
by the left section the next day at the same place. This 
crossing was about one mile east of Catlett's Station, and it 
gave us a splendid view of the surrounding country. 

We remained through the following day and were insp2Cted 
by Captain Randolph. 

October 30th. Hitched up at daylight, and, with the Third 
corps, moved to near Bealton Station and parked on the side 
of the Warrenton pike, where we remained eight days. In 
the meantime, we were mustered for two months' pay and 
also had several drills. Our" quarters were made comfortable 
temporarily, some of us going so far as to build chimneys to 
our tents. 



236 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

No veniber— 186 3. 

Battles of Rappahannock Station, Kelley's Ford 
Payne's Farm, and Mine Run. 

THE rebel army had now recrossecl the Rappahannock 
and was in position on both sides of the Orange and 
Alexandria Railroad, General Ewell's corps on the right 
and General Hill's on the left, with their cavalry on each 
f^ank. 

On November 6th, the railroad being completed and the 
army having been fully supplied, General Meade resolved to 
retake the offensive and force the passage of the Rappahan- 
nock at two points at once. For this purpose the Fifth and 
Sixth corps, under command of General Sedgwick, formed the 
right column, and they were ordered to move on the morning 
of the 7th to Rappahannock Station, force a passage, and ad- 
vance towards Brandy Station. Major-General French was 
placed in command of the First, Second, and Third corps, 
which formed the left column, and was to move at daylight to 
Kelley's Ford, five miles below, effect a crossing, then march 
towards Rappahannock Station and assist Sedgwick by at- 
tacking the enemy in the rear, after which he was to advance 
with Sedgwick's column to Brandy Station. Our cavalry 
formed on both flanks, Buford on the right and Kilpatrick 
on the left. By noon the right column arrived within a mile 
and a half of the river and formed two lines of battle, and at 
once advanced a skirmish line, when the enemy's position 
was carefully examined, preparatory to an attack as soon as 
the left column had assured its co-operation by advancing 
upon the enemy's rear. At three p. m. the left column of 
this movement was aroused by the familiar reveille, and at 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 237 

daylight the Third corps, in command of General Birney, left 
its camp, followed by the First and Second corps, and at i 
p. M. reached the vicinity of Kelley's Ford. While awaiting the 
order to advance the troops were massed in the woods upon 
the crest of the hills, near Mount Holly Church. When all 
was ready De Trobriand's brigade was rapidly advanced 
towards the river, accompanied by Randolph's battery, com- 
manded by Lieutenant Bucklyn, and Sleeper's Tenth Massa- 
chusetts battery. Bucklyn placed his battery upon the high 
land in front of the village and at the right of the ford. The 
Tenth Massachusetts remained on the crest of the hill at the 
left of the church, both batteries at once opening upon the 
enemy. De Trobriand, who led the advance, says : " The at- 
tack was intrusted to my brigade, which, for that occasion, 
was reinforced by the Twentieth Indiana and the Second bat- 
talion of sharpshooters. We arrived on the wooded heights 
which command the river without giving the alarm to the 
enemy. It was not until they saw us descending to the river 
banks that they ran to throw themselves into the intrench- 
ments which defended the ford, at the same time advancing 
a battery, but General Birney had already put some guns in 
position above a bend in the river, which took it while in mo- 
tion and compelled it to turn away from them. Then it pre- 
sented its side to some other guns in position on my right, 
which were only awaiting this opportunity to open fire. As- 
saulted from both sides at once, it was soon reduced to 
silence and compelled to retire. 

" During the cannonade I had thrown forward the sharp- 
shooters commanded by Colonel Trepp to the edge of the 
river, and behind them my other regiments, whom I held 
massed in rear of a roll in the ground near by. Colonel 
Trepp had improvised some protection for two or three of his 
companies on the most elevated part of the bank, from which 
they kept up so deadly a fire on the opposite intrenchments 
that the enemy did not dare to show himself, except occasion- 
ally for a chance shot. Profiting by this advantage, the rest 
of the battalion entered resolutely into the water. This was 
the signal. I pushed forward behind them, followed by the 
Fortieth New York, the Twentieth Indiana, the Third and 
Fifth Michigan, and the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylva- 
nia. Even before I had reached the opposite bank my skir- 



238 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

mishers, led by Lieutenants Aschmann and Garrison, had car- 
ried the first rifle-pits, and planted their flags on the para- ■ 
pets. The second Hne did not hold out long ; then, without 
stopping, we advanced on the village on the run. The enemy, 
who did not expect us there so soon, offered little resistance, 
and surrendered with a good grace." 

General Birney's biographer says of this action : " By two 
p. M., November 7th, the first division was massed, screened 
from observation in the rear of Mount Holly Church. . . . 
After taking a hasty survey of the ground and ascertaining 
where the ford was, General Birney ordered forward the 
First and Second regiments of United States sharpshooters, 
to drive the rebel pickets across the river, De Trobriand's 
brigade supporting, with orders to dash across close after the 
sharpshooters. In the meantime, quickly placing his artillery 
in position, he opened on the astonished rebels as soon as the 
sharpshooters got engaged. It was a complete surprise. 
Pratt's four-and-a-half-inch guns from the height near Mount 
Holly Church, and Randolph's light twelves at short range 
poured in such a fire as utterly confounded them. They sent 
forward a brigade to support their pickets, but it broke and 
ran, and our men plunged through the river, capturing be- 
tween three and four hundred prisoners, and before three 
o'clock p. M., we had our first division in position on the 
south side, and pontoons were being laid for the artillery and 
the rest of the corps to cross." 

The hour of our arrival at the church varies somewhat in 
the different accounts. General Humphreys's report says, at 
mid-day, Birney's biographer, at two p. m., the diary of Ser- 
geant Tanner records it at about noon, Sergeant Humphreys's, 
at one p. m., and the author's at two p. m. As it was a half 
mile from the church to the river, and having to move cau- 
tiously while seeking a route as much hidden from view as 
possible, and also having to cross Marsh Creek on the way, it 
was doubtless at the last named hour that we went into bat- 
tery upon the knoll about three hundred yards to the right of 
the ford. We immediately opened upon the enemy's line of 
battle, who soon broke and sought safer quarters. 

No sooner had we begun to fire than the rebel troops shel- 
tered under cover of the houses in the village across the 
river begun to fire upon the battery, but we soon made it so 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 239 

hot for them that they had to cease firing. While this action 
was in progress, Captain Massie's rebel battery commenced 
firing upon us from a distance in our front, which was soon si- 
-lenced by a few solid shot from Sleeper's Tenth Massachusetts 
battery and our own. An amusing but dangerous incident oc- 
curred to Birney and his staff very soon after their arrival at 
the ford. The banks on the rebel side of the river were 
covered with a thick growth of brush, behind which the ad- 
vanced pickets were hidden. When the sharpshooters were 
ordered to jump into the river, anticipating that a hidden lire 
was awaiting them, they very naturally hesitated to advance. 
At the same time a volley was fired upon Birney and his staff, 
who were grouped together near our battery. This so irri- 
tated Birney that he very forcibly ordered the line into the 
river, using, in doing so, superlatives that are not found in 
military tactics, or the church catechism. Nevertheless, they 
were effective in causing the line to plunge into the water, 
from which the pickets fled in haste across the open fields, re- 
ceiving, by way of compliment, a few canister from our bat- 
tery. 

After having driven the enemy from the river, the pontoons 
were laid and the infantry began to cross, but it was not un- 
til after nine p. m. that Battery E followed, and went into 
park for the night. The infantry, after crossing, moved up 
to the railroad to secure the crossing at Rappahannock Sta- 
tion. 

The casualties in French's column were forty-two killed and 
wounded, three of them being in our battery. It was the 
more sad because it occurred by a premature explosion, caus- 
ing the death of Albert N. Colwell, one of our best and bravest 
cannoneers. He was in the act of sponging the gun when 
the accident occurred. It carried away both arms, and 
otherwise injured him. Martin Harvey had his thumb seri- 
ously wounded by the same accident, and Corporal Chandler, 
who was just stooping to sight the gun, was knocked down by 
the recoil of the gun and slightly bruised in the face. 

Colwell belonged to the sixth detachment, and was the 
third man of the town of Scituate that had been killed in that 
detachment. He was one of the sturdy farmers of his town, 
and was the son of Asahel B. and Caroline Colwell. He was 
one of the original members of the battery, and one of its 



240 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

best and most fearless men, and had previously received the 
Kearney medal of honor. As soon as his death was known at 
home, Mr. John Atvvood was sent after the body, but as he 
was not allowed to enter our lines he had to return without 
it. About the ist of April, 1864, he again made the attempt. 
After reaching the army he found the regular horse battery, 
to \vhich the brother of the deceased belonged, who accom- 
panied him to Battery E, where they were joined by Nelson 
Lovell and Corp John M. Battey, two of the comrades who 
had buried the body. Mr. Atwood had brought with him a 
coffin which was placed in an ambulance, after which the party 
rode to our picket line at Kelley's Ford, who warned them of 
their danger of being captured by the enemy's scouts. They 
took the risk and hastily proceeded across the river to Mount 
Holly Church, near which the body was buried. There they 
were joined by a rebel who lived near by, and who cautioned 
them of their danger, and assisted them in exhuming the 
body and putting it into the ambulance. Without stopping to 
fasten down the cover of the coffin they hastily drove across 
the river to Brandy Station. The body was then put aboard 
the train and conveyed to North Scituate, R. I. The funeral 
services took place April loth, in the Congregational Church 
of that place, and, after an appropriate discourse by the pas- 
tor, the body was buried in the cemetery near by. 

At the Rappahannock Station there were several strong 
works which were manned by over two thousand rebel troops 
of Ewell's corps. It was about three p. m. when Sedgwick be- 
gan the attack by placing his heavy guns in position and 
opening a severe fire upon the rebel works. This artillery 
duel was continued until night, when Russell's and Upton's 
brigades, led by Russell in person, dashed into the pits and 
forts, when there followed one of the most desperate hand-to- 
hand conflicts of the war. An eye witness says : " The 
fierce and savage conflict continued for about twenty minutes, 
but our supports were pouring in from every side, and the 
enemy, finding longer resistance useless, surrendered. One 
wild huzzah informed General Lee that we were successful, 
and, in a few minutes, the stars and stripes floated above the 
palmetto. Our loss was 419, that of the enemy, 1,674, mostly 
prisoners." 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. • 24I 

An extract from a report of our chief of Third corps artil- 
lery (Captain Randolph), reads : 

" I placed Sleeper (Tentli Massachusetts Battery — 3-inch guns) in posi- 
tion on the heights, close to the Rappahannock, and half a mile south of 
the ford. I placed Captain Pratt's batter_v of 4|-inch Rodtnan guns in 
battery on the road from Mount Holly Church to the ford, about a quar- 
ter of a mile from the church, on the south side of Marsh Run, covering 
the ford, and, from the long range of the pieces, commanding the heights 
behind Kelleysville, on the south side of the Rappahannock. Battery E, 
First Rhode Island (light i2-pounder,) commanded by Lieutenant Buck- 
lyn, followed De Trobriand's brigade to the bluff on the north side of 
Marsh Run, overlooking Kelleysville, taking position in the angle formed 
by the river and a deep cutting. . . . Captain Sleeper first opened on 
the brick mill at the ford, where the enemy's picket was stationed. He 
had, however, fired but a few shots at it when he was attacked by a battery 
of the enemy in an earthwork on the hill in rear of Kelleysville. He 
replied to the fire, shooting excellently, and taking the rebel battery in 
front, while Lieutenant Bucklyn, with solid shot from his nearer position 
struck its flank, and their combined fire compelled the rebel battery to 
change position twice, and, finally, to retire. Lieutenant Bucklyn hav- 
ing, by a well-directed fire, prevented the strengthening of the enemy's 
force at the mill, fired into the town, from the houses of which the enemy 
kept up a brisk fire. When our skirmishers attempted to cross he threw 
a few rounds of canister into the enemy's rifle-pits with such excellent ef- 
fect that our sharpshooters were enabled to cross with comparatively little 
resistance, as well as to capture a number of the enemy, who chose to re- 
main rather than retreat across a hill and plain completely commanded and 
covered by Bucklj-n's battery. 

"The number and kinds of ammunition fired by Battery E were as fol- 
loAvs : Solid shot. So; spherical case, 72; shell, 24; canister, 5: a total of 
181." 

The following report is in full : 

HEADqUARTERS, BaTTERY E, \ 

First Rhode Island Artillery, Nov. 10, 1863. J 

Sir: I have the honor respectfully to submit the following report of 
the operations of my battery at the crossing of Kelley's Ford on Saturday, 
Nov. 7, 1863 : Following our line of skirmishers, I took position on the 
bluff north of the river commanding the ford, about three hundred yards 
distant, the position assigned me by Captain Randolph. I immediately 
opened on a line of battle on the opposite hill, and shelled them until they 
broke and ran. I also threw a number of shots into Kelleysville to drive 
out the sharpshooters, w-ho annoyed me considerably. I attacked a bat- 
tery that was firing at Captain Sleeper, and, by our united efibrts, we 
forced it to change position several times, and, finally, to withdraw. 
When our troops attempted to cross the river, the enemy, concealed in a 
rifle-pit on the opposite bank, opened a brisk fire upon them. I threw in 
a few rounds of canister, under cover of which our troops crossed and cap- 
tured some prisoners. I am sorry to learn that one of my canister killed 
16 



242 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

one of our sharpshooters, but they were so nearly between me and the 
enemy, the accident could not h ive been avoided. I used 181 rounds of 
ammunition. I found my fuses very unreliable; some shell did not burst 
at all, while others burst soon after leaving the gun. I could place no de- 
pendence upon them. Private Albert N Colwell was killed. Corp. Ed- 
ward A. Chandler and private Martin Harvey were wounded by the pre- 
mature discharge of a pie:;e. My officers and men, as usual, did their duty 
promptly, obeying my orders and those of my superiors. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

John K. Bucklyn. 
First Lieutenant, P. S. Jastram, 

Acting Assisfa?it Adjutant-Geueral. 

Kad Sedgwick failed to capture the works at the station, 
it was the intention of General Lee to have attacked the col- 
umn that crossed at Kelley's Ford, but having been defeated 
he abandoned that design and withdrew during the night of 
the 8th to his former position south of the Rapidan River. 

Meade's army went into position from Kelley's Ford 
through Brandy Station to Wellford's Ford on the Courdvine 
River. On the 9th General Meade issued an order of con- 
gratulation to his army, and especially mentioned the troops 
of General Russell and those of Colonel DeTrobriand's com- 
mand. 

On Sunday morning, November 8th, our battery hitched 
up at sunrise, and, after taking a survey of the destruction 
caused by our shot upon the houses in Kelleysville, we moved 
forward with the corps, making frequent halts, reaching 
Brandy Station, four miles distant, between four and five p. m. 

November 9th, we remained at the Station. The weather 
was cold and squally, and we built fires to keep warm. 

November loth. Moved battery about a mile and a half to 
the northeast of Brandy Station, and settled in camp on the 
west side of some woods, which gave us a good view of the 
surrounding country to the west and south. Our camp was 
in a recess in the woods which afforded us protection from 
the north and east winds. There was plenty of wood for fires, 
■ and a good supply of water for our horses, and, for the next 
five and a half months (with the exception of a few days), it 
became a home long to be remembered. 

William H. Bailey, who had long been absent, sick at the 
hospital, returned to duty. He was the shortest man in the 
battery, except Israel Riley, being only five feet and one-half 
inch in height, Riley being four feet and eleven inches. 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 243 

November iith. Commenced building tents with the ex- 
pectation of staying, possibly through the winter. Chimneys 
and fireplaces were also constructed, the work continuing for 
several days before being completed. Here the men enjoyed 
many pleasant visits to the several Rhode Island batteries and 
other commands with whom they had friends. 

November 12th. Our paymaster appeared, and paid us for 
September and October. 

All was quiet until the i6th, when our artillery brigade was 
reviewed by General French and Captain Randolph, they be- 
ing accompanied by the British Legation, who manifested 
much pleasure at the exhibition. 

November 17th. Bradbury A. Boggs re-enlisted, he being 
the second to re-enlist under an order from the War Depart- 
ment granting a release from their unexpired term of service, 
and dating their second term from the date of re-enlistment. 
He was followed by Robert Weidle on the 20th, and Uriah 
Griffin on the 23d. The two latter were detached from the 
infantry regiments, but they were now enrolled as members 
of Battery E. 

November 22d. Orders to be ready to move with fifteen 
days' rations were received. 

November 24th. Reveille at four a. m. Hitched up and 
moved a few rods, but on account of the rain the orders were 
countermanded for two days, and we returned to camp. 

November 26th. National Fast Day, which we kept by a 
fast march, in pursuit of the enemy, who were entrenched on 
the south side of the Rapidan River, extending from Bar- 
nett's Ford, about five miles above the railroad crossing of 
the Rapidan, down to Morton's Ford, a distance of about 
twenty miles. To protect his right flank General Lee had 
constructed an entrenched line from near Morton's Ford, and 
running south about five miles to Bartlett's Mill on the Mine 
Run. Bartlett's Mill is about half way from the Rapidan to 
Robertson's Tavern. The latter place, sometimes called 
Locust Grove, is on the turnpike from Fredericksburg to 
Orange Court House, about sixteen miles from the latter 
place." Ewell's corps held the right of this line, and that of 
A. P. Hill's the left. It was General Meade's intention to 
cross the Rapidan, surprise General Lee, and attack his forces 
in detail. With this object in view, the Second corps crossed 



244 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

Germania Ford just at night on the 26th, but, owing to de- 
lays, it did not reach Robertson's Tavern that night, as was 
intended, they going into camp about three miles beyond the 
river. The Fifth and First corps (except one division of the 
latter, which was left to guard the railroad), crossed at Cul- 
pepper Ford. The Third and Sixth corps infantry crossed at 
Jacob's Ford, but the artillery of these two corps, owing to 
the steep banks at the latter place, moved down to Germania 
Ford " and joined their corps by an almost impassable road 
along the river bank." Our battery had moved with the in- 
fantry to Jacob's Ford, and then marched nearly two miles 
to Germania Ford, crossing on a pontoon bridge 230 feet 
long. The roads being in a very bad condition our horses be- 
came nearly exhausted, and, in ascending the steep bank on 
the south side, we had to treble them in order to reach the 
high ground, which, in many places, was 100 feet above the 
river. We did not cross the pontoon until night, and it was 
five A. M. before we rejoined our infantry near Jacob's Ford. 

General Humphreys says: "As a consequence of these 
delays the heads of the columns, instead of reaching the vicin- 
ity of Robertson's Tavern by the night of the 26th, had only 
advanced from two to four miles from the river. Orders were 
issued for the columns to continue the movement the next 
day, as previously directed, the Second corps to advance on 
the pike as far as Old Verdiersville, about six miles beyond 
Robertson's Tavern, the Third and Sixth corps to close upon 
the Second, the Fifth corps to New Verdiersville on the 
plank road, about six miles beyond New Hope Church, and 
the First corps to close up on the Fifth, Gregg's cavalry 
division to move on the plank road in advance of the in- 
fantry." 

General Lee, in the meantime, had moved his troops out of 
his lines, and had marched them to the vicinity of Robert- 
son's Tavern, where he encountered the Second corps, about 
ten A. M., when his skirmishers were driven back by Warren's 
troops towards Raccoon Ford, taking some prisoners, who re- 
ported that two divisions of Ewell's corps were in front of the 
Second corps. At this time the Third and Sixth corps had 
not appeared, being several hours behind the time appointed 
for their arrival. At this time both commanders were wait- 
ing for the arrival of additional troops. 



1S63.] FIRST R. I, LIGHT ARTILLERY. 245 

General Meade, becoming impatient on account of the two 
absent corps, at eleven a. m. sent a dispatch to General 
French as follows : " General Warren is at Robertson's Tav- 
ern. Considerable force of the enemy in his front. Move 
forward as promptly as possible and send word to General 
Sedgwick." This was followed by another fifteen minutes 
later, still more urgent. Let General Humphreys be quoted 
again : " Let us now see what had become of the Third 
corps On the night of the 26th its leading division. General 
Prince commanding, halted at Roche's Farm, about two miles 
from the river, where a road comes in from Morton's Ford. 
On the morning of the 27th the division, after moving a mile, 
was halted at the forks of the road at Morris's and the two 
branches were examined. General Prince concluded the left 
hand fork was the one to follow, as it really was. General 
French was of the contrary opinion, and the corps remained 
halted. Had the column moved promptly by either road the 
Third corps followed closely by the Sixth, would have arrived 
at Robertson's Tavern at the same hour as the Second corps, 
and these three corps, consisting of 2,344 officers and 37,819 
enlisted men of infantry, with an ample supply of artillery, 
would have encountered Ewell's corps, consisting of 1,321 
officers and 15,650 enlisted men, and at a time when Hill was 
too far off to be available, and when the Fifth and First 
corps were advancing on the plank road to meet him." 

At half-past eleven a dispatch was received from General 
French, saying, "The head of my column is near the plank 
road and waiting for General Warren." This was dated 9.20 
A. M. To this General Meade sharply replied, " What are you 
waiting for ? No orders have been sent you to wait for Gen- 
eral Warren anywhere upon your route." 

Again French was ordered forward promptly. At about 
twelve M. General French sent another dispatch informing 
Meade that the enemy was upon his right flank and that he 
was making preparations to meet him, to which General 
Meade replied : " The major-general commanding directs that 
you attack the enemy in your front immediately, throwing 
your left forward so as to connect with General Warren at 
Robertson's Tavern." During this correspondence between 
Generals Meade and French no other battery besides ours 
had arrived, and when our troops were advanced in line of 



246 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

battle about noon the right section moved with it and soon 
became engaged, firing probably about twenty-five rounds. In 
this line of battle General Prince's division was on the right 
of General Carr, whose troops were made up largely of men 
who had not before been under fire. The fighting was not 
severe at first, but gradually increased in severity as the after- 
noon wore away. About four in the afternoon the centre sec- 
tion relieved the right, Battery K, Fourth United States, 
going to the front soon after. The battle began vigorously 
on both sides, and, as the attack centered on Carr's raw 
troops, they, after a prolonged contest, began to retire in such 
large numbers that a line of veteran troops was formed be- 
hind them, and they again renewed the struggle. At this time 
every regiment present belonging to the Third corps was se- 
verely engaged, while the centre section of Bucklyn's battery 
and Battery K, United States, were dealing destruction tO' 
Johnson's daring troops. So severely were our troops at- 
tacked that at one time our lines were driven back to the edge 
of the woods, but Lieutenant Bucklyn, whose section was sta- 
tioned on the right, so persistently dealt them with canister 
that with the aid of Birney's veteran troops which had now 
arrived, the enemy, although reinforced by Doles's brigade, 
was again driven back into the woods. The right and left 
sections followed Birney's troops to the front, but were not 
engaged. During the severe contest two divisions of the 
Sixth corps arrived upon the field, being received by the hard 
pressed troops with prolonged cheers. A portion of these de- 
ployed in line of battle, but the enemy having nearly ceased 
firing, they were not ordered into action. It had now be- 
come dark and the battle was ended. During the close of 
this encounter the centre section was on the right and fur- 
ther advanced than the other sections. It was here that Cor- 
poral Tanner, of the centre section, was wounded, and the 
writer was sent to take his place as gunner on the third piece. 
After waiting some two hours, and the enemy making no fur- 
ther demonstrations, the cannoneers of the centre section lay 
down behind some fallen timbers and remained until daylight, 
when it was found that the enemy had retreated during the 
night. 

Besides Corporal Tanner none were injured except the 
officers' little boy, " Tommy," who was wounded while in a 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 247 

tree, where he had climbed m order to see the battle. After 
a few weeks of absence he returned a wiser boy from his ex- 
perience of reckless daring. Private Richard Alexander was 
reported wounded, but his wound was caused by a pistol shot 
in the foot while forag"ino:. 

General Humphreys says in his history of this campaign 
that " with three times the force of Johnson, and having be- 
sides the whole of the Si.xth corps, equal in numbers to his 
own, near at hand, General French remained on the defen- 
sive." Had General Sickles been in command of the Third 
corps it is safe to say that the results of this campaign would 
have been very different. 

General French reported the loss of 881 men killed and 
wounded and 71 missing. Johnson's division had a total loss 
of 498, among them being two colonels, who were killed. 
This action is officially known as the battle of I'ayne's Farm, 
and was about one and a half miles north of Locust Grove, 
by which name it is more generally known. 

While the Third corps was fighting at Payne's Farm War- 
ren had remained at the Robertson Tavern skirmishing with 
the enemy. The First and Fifth corps were on his left, the 
latter at New Hope Church, the former at Parker's store. 
Late in the afternoon the First corps arrived at Warren's po- 
sition and during the night the Sixth corps also arrived. The 
Third corps lay under arms on the battlefield until near day- 
light, at which time our battery moved with the corps and 
joined with the Fifth corps, marching in the rain in support 
of the First, Second, and Si.xth corps, which moved soon after 
daylight- along the pike in line of battle, " but found only the 
pickets of the enemy. Meade advancing, found that Lee had 
taken up a strong position on the west side of Mine Run, 
which he entrenched." Our battery, after crossing the pike 
at Robertson's Tavern, took a southwest course, and did not 
reach our position in front of the enemy, owing to the con- 
stant halts, until night. 

On the evening of the 28th Meade called a council of war, 
when it was decided that as the enemy was so strongly forti- 
fied it was not advisable to make an attack in front, but in- 
stead it was determined that General Warren should, with the 
Second corps, Terry's division of the Sixth corps, and 800 
cavalry, move to Lee's right flank, and, if possible, to turn it. 



248 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

To this end Warren moved from the enemy's front during 
the night of the 28th and proceeded towards the point desig- 
nated. On the 29th Sedgwick's corps held the right ; to his 
left was Sykes with the Fifth ; then came Newton's First, 
which joined the right of French's Third corps. Our battery 
moved up to the front early in the morning, going into bat- 
tery upon a ridge, on which, during the night, we threw up 
breastworks in front of our guns. A short distance in front 
of us was a ravine; just beyond this upon rolling ground lay 
our skirmish line, being separated only a few rods from that 
of the enemy's. A slight elevation of the hill between them 
being the only protection for either, and as the temperature 
was below freezing point, their suffering was severe, some 
being frozen to death, and many more having their hands and 
feet frozen. 

But there was no relief for them, for not one of them 
could raise his head without receiving a shot from the enemy. 
During the day the corps commanders had critically exam- 
ined the enemy's position in their front. " Towards evening. 
General Wright, commanding the First division. Sixth corps, 
reported to General Meade that he had discovered a point on 
the enemy's extreme left where an assault was practicable 
with inconsiderable loss. At the same time Captain Michler, 
of the engineers, reported that an assault in front of the 
Third corps, though hazardous, was not impracticable, and 
Major Ludlow, aide-de-camp to General Meade, who had re- 
turned from Warren, stated . . . that the conditions 
there were favorable to an attack. Generals Newton and 
Sykes, commanders of the First and Fifth corps, reported an 
attack from their front impracticable." Upon receiving this 
information General Meade first proposed to attack at three 
points, the right, left and centre. Later in the evening Gen- 
eral French reported against an attack upon the centre by 
the Third and First corps. Meade then modified his plan of 
attack, and decided that the right and left only should be the 
points of assault. To this end, the Fifth and Sixth corps 
were massed during the night upon the right. The divisions 
of Generals Prince and Carr, of the Third corps, were sent to 
reinforce General Wanen at the left General Hirncy's divis- 
ion and the First corps were left, "to make demonstrations 



iS63-] FIRST R. I, LIGHT ARTILLERY. 249 

in their front and unite in the attack if it proved successful 
on either flank." 

xMeade's chief of staff says : " General War'ren was to as- 
sault at eight o'clock, and, at the request of General Sedg- 
wick, the artillery of the First, Third and Fifth corps was to 
open at that hour and continue their fire until nine o'clock, 
when General Sedgwick was to assault with the Fifth and 
Sixth corps." 

Promptly at the hour appointed the artillery opened its 
fire, our battery being one among them, and for one hour our 
artillery fired quite lively, but received no reply. Our skir- 
mishers now advanced and crossed Mine Run, and drove back 
the skirmish line of the enemy. During the firing of the ar- 
tillery, " Captain Roebling, of General Warren's staff, ar- 
rived, bringing a dispatch from him, informing General Meade 
that he had suspended his attack until further orders, as he 
had found the enemy's works so formidable that he could not 
succeed ; during the night their lines had been reinforced 
with all the infantry and artillery it could hold, and their in- 
trenchments completed with abatis." 

After receiving this dispatch General Meade ordered Gen- 
eral Sedgwick, who was then about to advance, to suspend 
the assault. General Meade then rode to Warren's position, 
and found that he was justified in not making the attack. 
The Third and Sixth corps troops with General Warren were 
now sent back to their corps, and the Fifth and Sixth corps, 
as soon as night set in, returned to their former position. 

During the artillery firing on the morning of the 30th, the 
weather was very cold, from which we suffered severely, but 
as we were not disturbed by the enemy's shots, we thought 
ourselves fortunate. While the cannonading was in progress 
our position was being closely scanned by a group of general 
officers and their staffs from behind some breastworks in our 
front. Lieutenant Bucklyn, observing them, ordered his bat- 
tery, beginning with the right piece, to open fire upon them, 
and, after two or three of his guns had fired, the right eleva- 
tion was found, and the remaining shots were dropped into 
the group, dispersing them in apparent haste Soon after our 
battery was relieved by the Tenth Massachusetts, with ord- 
nance guns, whose long range could better reach the enemy's 
lines. 



250 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

After being relieved we went back about one and a-half 
miles, where we were joined by our caissons which had been 
left a short distance in the rear during the action. Our 
horses were now unharnessed and given a chance to rest 
after having been several days in the harness. 

After the decision on the morning of the 30th not to make 
the assault on the strong works of the enemy, several other 
plans were proposed, one among them being to move the 
whole army to the rebels' right flank, but as this would neces- 
sitate the abandonment of our base, and as winter had appar- 
ently set in, it was decided to recross the Rapidan and return 
to our former position. 

December ist. Before daylight we hitched up, and, with 
three other batteries from each corps, under General Tyler, 
marched to Culpepper Ford, and, crossing over a pontoon 
bridge 150 feet long, we went into camp along the north side 
to cover the crossing of the army which was to follow during 
the night of December ist, which crossing was successfully 
accomplished without the knowledge of the enemy. While 
our army was recrossing the Rapidan, General Lee was con- 
centrating the forces of Anderson's and Wilcox's divisions in 
front of Warren's position, with a view of forcing an attack 
the next morning, but the morning light revealed to him that 
our army had withdrawn during the night. A portion of 
Lee's army started in pursuit, but they soon learned that our 
army was across the Rapidan, and the pursuit was abandoned, 
although some three hundred stragglers were picked up in 
the pursuit. During these two engagements the battery fired 
III solid shot, 21 shell, 28 spherical case, and 12 canisters ; 
a total of 172 rounds. 

Although this worse than useless campaign was attributed 
to the failure of General French to comply with his instruc- 
tions, it in no way lessened the merit of the Third corps, and 
if the corps had been commanded by General Birney it was 
then believed that the results of the campaign would have 
been crowned with success. General French had no qualities 
that the fighting Third corps had learned to admire ; his self- 
conceit, to say nothing of his reported habits, did not bring 
to him that admiration which his troops had bestowed upon 
the generals who had formerly commanded them. 



1S63.] FIRST R.I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 25 1 

Our battery remained unhitched in the pine woods where 
we encamped after recrossing the Rapidan, until night, when 
we harnessed up, and so remained until noon the next day, 
when we marched over badly cut up roads some ten miles, 
and again went into camp just north of Mountain Run. 

December 3d. Hitched up and started at daylight, arriv- 
ing at nine a. m. at the camp which we had left one week be- 
fore. During this campaign the Union army lost 173 killed, 
1,099 wounded, and 381 captured, a total of 1,653. The Con- 
federates lost 98 killed, 610 wounded, and 104 missing, a to- 
tal of 812. 

Captain Randolph, in his report of this campaign, says : 

" When the skirmishers and leading regiments of General Prince's divi- 
sion had cleared the way, Lieutenant Buckljn put a section (right) in po- 
sition supporting the line, firing slowly where the enemy appeared in 
greatest force, and rendering great assistance to the infantry engaged. 
About five p. m. he relieved that section (the right) by a fresh one (the 
centre,) and, at the same time, Lieutenant Roder, (K,) Fourth United 
States, in compliance Avith an order from General French in person, 
placed his battery, six light pounders, on the left of Bucklyn. About ten 
minutes after the enemy charged our lines, driving our infantry and ad- 
vancing within one hundred j'ards of the guns. Roder and Bucklyn 
loaded with canister, and immediately their front was clear of our men, 
opened upon the enemy, driving him back in confusion. He reformed, 
however, and charged a second time, but only to be again repulsed, with 
great loss. . . . The four remaining pieces of Bucklyn's battery were 
brought up, but they were not used. . . . Lieutenants Roder and 
Buckl3'n deserve special mention for the manner in which the}' fought their 
batteries. The latter reports that he was ordered by General Prince to ad- 
vance a section in a line with the skirmishers. His own good judgment 
prevented his obeying and losing his guns." 

These extracts from Captain Randolph's report relate only 
to the action at Payne's Farm, November 27th. 

Lieutenant Bucklyn, in a report to Brig-Gen. E. C. Mau- 
ran, adjutant-general Rhode Island, dated Dec. 4, 1863, says : 

"Thursday, November 26th, I broke camp at daylight and reported to 
General Birney commanding First division. I marched with the First 
division to Jacob Mills on the Rapidan, but this ford being deemed im- 
practicable for artillery. Captain Randolph ordered me to move down the 
river to Germania Ford, and move upon the other side and rejoin the di- 
vision. This gave me a long, tedious march, and I did not come up with 
the division until reveille. The other batteries of the corps did not come 
up until several hours after. Friday morning I reported to General 
Prince commanding Second division, and marched near the head of his 



252 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

column to a place called Locust Grove (Payne's Farm). Here I took po- 
sition and fired slowly at the enemy massed in front of me. About four 
o'clock the enemy charged our lines with such impetuosity that he quicklj' 
drove our infantry from the woods. With the peculiar rebel yell they 
came on until they reached the edge of the woods about thirty yards in 
my front, when I gave them canister shot, spherical case and shell as fast 
as I could load and fire. Those that escaped fell back in confusion, and 
our troops immediatel\' occupied the field. Early yesterday morning I re- 
ported to General Birney and marched past Robertson's Tavern to a posi- 
tion near Mine Run. Here I remained, watching the enemy and firing oc- 
casionally, until Tuesday. I reported to Captain Robinson" early Tues- 
day morning, and marched with the artillerj* reserve across Culpepper's 
Gold Mine Foi-d, and returned to my old camp near Brandy Station, De- 
cember 3d. My casualties are Corp. James A. Tanner, wounded in the 
breast; private Richard Alexander, wounded in the foot. 

Veyy respectfully, your obedient servant, 

JOH.NT K. BUCKLYX, 

First Lieutetiaiif CoiiiiiuDidiiig Battery. 



1S63.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 25, 



C H APTE R XIX. 

December, 1863, to May, 1864. 

Winter Quarters at Brandy Station. — Re-enlist- 
ments. — Change of Battery Officers. — Prepar- 
ation FOR Summer Campaign. 

DECEMBER 4th, The army was now mostly settled, 
although rumors of the enemy's crossing the Rapidan 
were quite frequent for several days. In consequence 
of these rumors we hitched up on the 5th, but made no move. 

Sunday, December 6th. Captain Randolph inspected the 
battery, and expressed himself well pleased with its condi- 
tion. 

December 7th. We had now begun to build our barn for 
the horses, which was continued for ten days or more before 
before being completed. It was built in the form of a hollow 
square, and covered on its sides and top with pine and cedar 
boughs, thereby giving the horses good protection against the 
cold winds and storms. Our tents were also arranged for 
winter quarters and provided with the proper facilities for 
warming and cooking, the latter being essential, as every 
man was to do his own cooking, or in messes, if preferred. 

All was quiet until the loth, when every available man was 
ordered to work on the barn. 

December nth. Corp. Lester S. Hill received an order 
to report at Washington and appear before the Casey Board, 
to be examined for a commission. Sergt. George W. H. 
Allen and Corp. Allen Gardner were sworn into the service 
again, they having re-enlisted on the 7th. Private Samuel 
W. Austin was promoted to corporal, and assigned to the 
third piece. Private Joseph McCarty re-enlisted. 

December 14th. Corp. James Donnelly and private Polk, 
and one of the Crothers brothers left for home on a ten 



2 54 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

days' furlough. Privates Alrny M. Brownell, Adelbert A. 
Fairbanks, and John McAlees, and artificer Henry C. 
Wightman re-enlisted and were sworn into the service for 
three years. Lieutenant Freeborn left on the following day 
on a ten days' leave of absence. 

December iSth. An order from the War Department was 
read in line, which stated that if three-fourths of the men 
would re-enlist the battery would be allowed to go home in a 
body immediately, and remain thirty days, and that a bounty 
of $402 from the government, besides a bounty of $300 from 
the state, would be given to each man that re-enlisted. The 
result following the discussion of this appeal was the re-en- 
listment of the following members of the battery : Quarter- 
master-Sergt. B. N. Remington, Sergt. George Humphreys, 
Corporals Blair and H. F. Bennett, privates Lord, Brayton, 
Hooper, Hale, Lovell, Marble, Morse, Russell, Taber, Torpy, 
Watson and Wingler. All of the above are on record as hav- 
ing re-enlisted on the 21st of December, except Sergeant 
Humphreys and Corporal Bennett, who re-enlisted on the 
24th, These veterans, with others who had re-enlisted under 
a former order, received their furlough and left for home on 
the 29th. 

The very day on which these veterans started for Rhode 
Island, " Capt. George E. Randolph resigned and was hon- 
orably discharged, per special order No. 338, Headquarters 
A. of P., dated Dec. 29, 1863, to take effect Jan. 5, 1864." 

Although Randolph was chief of the corps artillery, he was 
still nominally the captain of the battery. This caused a va- 
cancy, which was generally expected would be promptly filled 
by the deserved promotion of Lieutenant Bucklyn. It had 
already been told, in fact, to Bucklyn's friends at home, that 
he was to be Randolph's successor, and they so informed him, 
and, at the proper time, it was made known to the members 
of the battery as an inducement for them to re-enlist. Had 
this promise been promptly fulfilled, as nearly every member 
of the battery desired and expected, there is every reason to 
believe enough would have re-enlisted to have assured the 
battery's return home to recruit. 

During the absence of these sergeants on furloughs Cor- 
poral Tanner had charge of the second detachment, Corporal 




Lieut. Lester S. Hill. 



JS63.] first R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 255 

Lewis of the Fifth, and Corp. John M. Battey acted as quar- 
termaster-sergeant. 

Corp. Lester S. Hill returned from Washington on the 
15th. After passing a critical and satisfactory examination, 
he was granted a second lieutenant's commission, dated Dec. 
15, 1863, and was signed by Edwin M. Stanton, secretary of 
war. He was assigned to Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, 
Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (colored), the name being 
afterward changed to Eleventh United States Heavy Artil- 
lery. 

Lieutenant Hill is the son of Jerah Hill and Amy Whip- 
ple Ormsbee, both of whom were of more than ordinary intel- 
ligence, and were highly esteemed by a large acquaintance. 
His mother is now (1891) living at the venerable age of 
eighty-five years. Lester was born Dec. 19, 1843, in the 
town of Foster, R. L His early youth was spent upon the 
farm, where he worked eight months of the year, attending 
the usual term of four months at the district school. Upon 
the outbreak of the Rebellion, he became imbued with the pa- 
triotic spirit which pervaded the youth of the land, and, al- 
though but seventeen years old, and not having attained the 
age required by law to enter the army service, he resorted to 
the common method of telling the recruiting oiTicer that he 
was older, was allowed to enter, and was assigned to Battery 
E, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, into which he was mus- 
tered Sept. 30, 1 861. His history in Battery E does not 
need to be repeated here, for all his living comrades well re- 
member that he was behind none in the faithful performance 
of the duties of a patriotic soldier. Those who read these 
pages will never fail to find that he was always at his post 
whenever duty called. From the many competent men of 
which his battery was composed, the unerring judgment of 
his young captain, as early as Aug. i, 1862, selected him 
to be one of its corporals. Soon after he became gunner on 
the fifth piece, and as such he served with his comrades in all 
the battles in which Battery E was engaged previous to his 
departure to another field of duty. His relations with his 
comrades were always of the most cordial nature. His con- 
duct and bearing was always that which becomes a man of 
honor. On the 27th, Lieutenant Hill, after receiving many 
congratulations from his friends upon his promotion, and with 



256 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

the best wishes of the officers and comrades with whom dur- 
ing two years he had formed a friendship long to be remem- 
bered, he took his departure for Rhode Island. After spend- 
ing a few weeks among his friends, he joined his battalion, 
and sailed on the 22d of January in the transport Daniel Web- 
ster, for New Orleans, where he arrived Feb. 3, 1864 Soon 
after this battalion (the Second,) was ordered to Fort Plaque- 
mine, 160 miles above New Orleans. "Here it was engaged 
in putting the fort, which had been begun by a former garri- 
son, in a state of defense, and in guarding the town by a long 
line of pickets. This line of pickets extended as far as In- 
dian Village, twelve miles back. Frequent skirmishes oc- 
curred between the battalion and the guerillas under the noto- 
rious Captain Scott, of Plaquemine Parish. At one time they 
dashed down upon the outposts and captured four or five men 
whom they murdered as they retreated through Indian Vil- 
lage." 

Lieutenant Hill being familiar with the light artillery ser- 
vice, was selected to drill a company of that arm which was 
attached to this battalion. The battalion remained here un- 
til after the close of the Rebellion, when it joined the First 
battalion at Camp Parapet, La., where the regiment was mus- 
tered out Oct. 2, 1865. 

After the war Lieutenant Hill was a school teacher for a 
time, while preparing for his medical course, which he com- 
menced in the University of Vermont at Burlington, and fin- 
ished in the University of New York City, graduating from 
the latter with the degree of M. D. in March, 1873. He im- 
mediately located in the city of Providence, where he has 
since been engaged in his profession, and has acquired a 
successful and extensive practice. He is located at 573 
Broad Street, where he owns two substantial residences. Dr. 
Hill was married in 1872 to Elinora E. Remington, daughter 
of Thomas M. Remington and Cynthia Tillinghast, they hav- 
ing been neighbors from childhood. She is a woman of fine 
culture, and was, also, before her marriage, a school teacher. 
Mrs. Hill was graduated from the Providence Conference 
Seminary in 1871, is one of the Board of Managers of the 
Prisoners' Aid Society, and is deeply interested in humanita- 
rian and educational movements. Three bright and promis- 
ing children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Hill, in whose 



1863.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 257 

mental and* moral training they are deeply interested. To his 
old comrades the doctor always extends a hearty greeting, and 
to his home they are always welcome. 

Dr. Hill has been prominent in society matters, holding 
membership in the Grand Lodge of Masons of Rhode Island 
and also in the Grand Chapter. He has been Grand Mas- 
ter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Rhode 
Island and has occupied the position of Grand Representative 
to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States for six 
years. He has been Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encamp- 
ment of Rhode Island. He is also a member of the Kniohts 
of Honor, being the State Medical Examiner at the present 
time (1891), having held that office for nine consecutive years. 
In 1872 and 1873 he represented his native town in the Gen- 
eral Assembly of Rhode Island. He has been for eleven 
years a member of the School Committee of the city of Prov- 
idence. 

He is connected with the Rhode Island Medical Associa- 
tion. The doctor takes a deep interest in all public ques- 
tions of importance. He makes no claims to oratory, yet he 
can speak well and forcibly, and never fails to interest his 
hearers. Financially the doctor is in comfortable circum- 
stances, which enables him to travel quite extensively, in 
which he takes great delight. He is now and has been for 
several years a director in two of the city banks. In 1872 he 
joined Prescott Post, and in 1873 was elected its post surgeon, 
which office he held for four years in succession. He was 
elected medical director of the department in 1876, and oc- 
cupied that position for three years. In 1889 he was unan- 
imously elected president of the First Rhode Island Artil- 
lery Veteran Association, among the members of which he is 
very popular. 

Jan. I, 1864, opened warm and muddy, followed by a cold 
wave during the night. Lieutenant Bucklyn and Captain 
Randolph were on their way homeward. The former, it was 
thought at the time, had gone to look after his claims for pro- 
motion, which may have been true in part, but learning a few 
days after that he had been married, we came to the conclu- 
sion that the first-named object was only secondary. 

Lieutenant Freeborn, in the absence of Lieutenant Buck- 
lyn, was in command of the battery, but so many men were 
17 



258 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Jan., 

away on tiirloughs that he had only a few drills knd an oc- 
casional inspection. 

On January 2d, William Owens and Leonard Steamer re- 
enlisted. 

On the 4th Chandler Lindsey was enlisted as a recruit by 
Lieutenant Bucklyn. He had previously been employed by 
the government as wagon maker in the quartermaster de- 
partment. He was an excellent soldier and was a native of 
Sandy Creek, N. Y. 

January 5th being the date upon which Captain Randolph's 
resignation took effect, it may not be out of place to give a 
brief biographical sketch of his life. His ancestors de- 
scended from the first settlers of Virginia and were among 
the foremost and most prominent leaders of the affairs of 
the state. Richard K. Randolph, the grandfather of Capt. 
George E. Randolph, was a nephew of ex-President William 
H. Harrison, thereby making the subject of this sketch a 
third cousin of Benjamin Harrison, now President of the 
United States. The Biographical Dictionary of Rhode Island, 
in speaking of Richard K. Randolph, says : "The family res- 
idence of his father, who was a wealthy tobacco planter, was 
at Wilton on the James River, about six miles from Rich- 
mond. P^rom an obituary notice published in the Newport 
(R. I.) Mercury and copied into the Providence Jojirnal of 
April 2, 1849, "^ copy of which has been kindly furnished the 
writer by Miss Katherine H. Austin, of Providence, we quote : 

"Richard K. Randolph was born in 1781. He entered 
Harvard College in 1798. His college vacations were spent 
in Newport, R. L He married a daughter of Judge Daniel 
Lyman, of Rhode Island, and returned to Virginia,, where he 
studied law. In 18 10 he returned to Newport, where he 
lived until his death in 1849. Ox\q of the most memorable 
trials in which he was engaged was that of Rev. Ephraim K. 
Avery, who retained him as one of his counsel, and who was 
largely indebted to him for his acquittal. P^or several years 
he represented Newport in the General Assembly. He was 
also one of the commissioners to adjust the boundaries be- 
tween Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In the Dorr War he 
occupied an important position as one of Governor King's 
counsel. He was distinguished for his great integrity of 
character, and commanded the homage and respect of his fel- 



3S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 259 

low citizens wherever he was known. In his profession he 
stood among the foremost lawyers of the state, and not un- 
frequently practiced in the United States Supreme Court at 
Washington. He had ten children. His son, John R. Ran- 
dolph, married Miss Betsy Engs, daughter of Lieut.-Gov. 
George Engs, of Newport." 

John R. Randolph, the father of Capt. George E. Ran- 
dolph, was born Feb. 3, 18 11. He was the father of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters, Richard K., George 
E., John, Peyton H., Sally Engs, Lucy B., and Mary L. All 
four of these sons were in the United States service. Richard 
K. was in the Twelfth Illinois regiment, of which he was an 
officer. John was a non-commissioned officer in the First 
Rhode Island regiment and the Twenty-second New York 
Militia. Peyton H. was in the First Rhode Island Infantry 
and also in the navy. Sally died April 10, 1890. She was 
widely known among the real reformers of Providence. She 
was for many years an officer in the " Union for Christian 
Work," and was one of the founders of "The Flower Mis- 
sion." In all that related to the advancement of woman she 
was ever a foremost worker. Lucy, in spirit, was like her 
sister, but for many years was a sufferer from poor health. 
She died a few weeks before her sister. Mary L., the young- 
est child, married Richard C. Lake, and now (1891) lives in 
Rapid City, South Dakota, where her husband is president 
of the National Bank. She was in every way worthy of her 
sisters, and sympathized in the spirit of their good work. 
The mother of these children died April 15, 185 1, at the age 
of thirty-seven years. 

Mr. Randolph at an early age entered as a cadet the 
United States Military Academy at West Point, where he re- 
mained some two years. Choosing, then, to become a law- 
yer, he entered the law office of his father, and in due time 
was admitted to the bar. He followed his profession for 
many years, and in May, 1865, he was appointed judge of the 
Court of Magistrates of Providence, which office he held for 
ten years. He is now living at the ripe age of seventy-nine 
years, having outlived all of his children except two sons, 
George and John, and his daughter Mary. He has a large 
acquaintance, by whom he is highly esteemed. He is a man 



2 0O 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Jai"'-, 



of marked intelligence and positive convictions and possesses 

a high sense of honor. _ 

Capt George E. Randolph, the subject of this sketch was 
born in Quincy, 111., March 29, 1840. His parents moved to 
Newport, R. I., in 1846, and remained two years, when they 
moved to Providence, R. I. In the meantime George at- 
tended the public schools at the several places in which he 
lived. In 185 1, at the age of eleven, he entered the High 
School at Providence. Soon after leaving his studies he en- 
tered into the service of E. C. Thayer, as clerk in the shoe 
and leather business, where he remained, giving perfect sat- 
isfaction to his employer, until the breaking out of the Rebel- 
lion Being prompted by a spirit of loyalty to his country, as 
soon as the recruiting of Battery A commenced, he enlisted 
as sergeant-major, and was sworn into the United States ser- 
vice June 6, 1861. The rank of that office being declared 
illeo-al, he became first sergeant, and served m that capacity 
durmcr the first battle of Bull Run, where he was wounded in 
both legs, just above the ankles. It is said by his comrades 
who were with him at the time that he showed the same self- 
possession that so distinguished him while m the command 
of more responsible positions later in the war. August 14th 
he received a second lieutenant's commission, and served 
with that rank in the same battery until the 13th of Septem- 
ber when he was assigned to Battery C, with the rank ot 
first lieutenant. His rapid promotion, although deserved, 
was nevertheless, remarkable, he being so young, and not 
having had any experience in military affairs before enlisting. 
But this was not final, for hardly had he reached his nevv 
command when another commission, giving to him the rank 
of captain, was received, which bore the date of Sept. 28, 
1 86 1 and assigned him to Battery E, of which he assumed 
command on the nth of October following. The successfu 
career of Captain Randolph as commander of Battery h and 
chief of artillery having been already recorded upon the pre- 
vious pages of this work, only reference to the dates of hisacl- 
vancement will be noticed before passing to his life as a civil- 
ian On the 1 2th of December, 1862, the day before the 
commencement of the battle of Fredericksburg, he assumed 
command of Birney's division artillery, which commanc he 
held until the 26th of April, 1S63, when he was assigned to 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, 26 1 

the chief command of the Third corps artillery, of which 
corps General Sickles was then commander. This position 
he held during the remainder of his service in the army, 
which, as before stated, ended Jan. 5, 1864. Although it had 
been seven months since Randolph had made his headquar- 
ters with the battery, it was with unfeigned sorrow that we 
learned of his departure from the army. His noble qualities 
as a man, and his high standing as an officer in the artillery 
service, had contributed largely to make the good reputation 
which his battery had won in the Third corps, and, notwith- 
standing that we had in Lieutenant Bucklyn all the qualities 
of a brave and noble soldier (upon whom the command of the 
battery had previously fallen), the of^cers and men will ever 
be proud of having belonged to Randolph's old battery. 

After his return from the army, Captain Randolph was 
breveted major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. In consid- 
eration of Captain Randolph's services while in the army. 
General Sickles recommended him for appointment as briga- 
dier-general. In a letter from Colonel Randolph, dated Dec. 
3, 1888, he writes of his connection with Battery E, in which 
the modest and unselfish nature of the man is revealed. He 
says : " I thank you sincerely for your kind words. Allow 
me to make one suggestion. Much of the best work of Bat- 
tery E was done under Bucklyn, and yet the name " Ran- 
dolph's Battery," somehow sticks to it, and I think in this 
way, after I became chief of artillery, I got credit, for some 
of Bucklyn's work. The lettering of the Gettysburg monu- 
ment also tends to leave Bucklyn in the background, and, 
therefore, I hope that you will see, in making permanent 
record, that Bucklyn has the place he is entitled to." * 

On the 7th of July, 1864, Colonel Randolph was married to 
Hattie Porter, of Taunton, Mass. Mrs. Randolph is a 
woman of fine culture and intelligence. She is the daughter 
of John Porter, a well-known and highly-esteemed citizen of 
Taunton. They have no children living. Soon after his 
marriage he resided in New York City, where he w^as an 
agent for several companies. In October, 1864, he moved to 
Central City, Col, where he was an agent for a mining and 
milling company, which position he held until 1883. Colonel 

* Randolph's letter referred to the inscription, "Randolph's Battery," on the base of the 
monument, to which has since been added, " Lieut. J. K. Bucklyn conunanding." 



262 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [>n., 

Randolph was no less successful in civil pursuits than he was 
in military life, and soon became very popular and widely 
known as a man of superior ability and having the capacity 
not only for business, but also the qualifications for public 
matters. Although not by nature a politician, he was, how- 
ever, deeply interested in all that pertains to a good govern- 
ment, and, though not seeking the office, he was,-in 1872, 
elected mayor of Central City, and was also, the same year, 
a member of the Territorial Legislature and one of its most 
useful members. In 1883 he moved to Denver City, becom- 
ing the general manager of the Denver City Cable Railway 
Company. He still (1891) holds that position, givmg entire 
satisfaction to the company which he so faithfully serves. 
As Colonel Randolph is now only fifty-one years of age, it is 
hoped by all of his old comrades and friends that he may en- 
joy the blessing of many useful and happy years. 
On the 6th, the time allowed for re-enlisting expired. 
January 13th, Lieutenant Bucklyn returned from his leave 
of absence. The term for re-enlistment being extended. 
Lieutenant Bucklyn made another effort to induce the men 
to re-enlist, and again assured them that he had, while in 
Providence, been promised the captaincy of the battery, and 
that no changes should take place without his consent. At 
this time there were many more seriously considering the 
question of re-enlisting, but the delay in not making the ap- 
pointment as expected, caused many to hesitate, until it was 
too late to do so. General Birney was very anxious about 
these re-enlistments, as the following extract will show : 

"The maior-eeneral commanding the division appeals to the officers 
and men, and hopes that all will volunteer to remain until the war tor the 
Union is closed. So far, this division has led all others in the arm v of 
the United States in re-enlistments, evincing its desire to stand bv tne 
colors and the commander wishes to have the honor of saying that all the 
regimental organizations led by him during the past campaign remained 
unbroken until the last armed rebel had disappeared . . • and 
hopes that every officer and man wearing the kearnev patch will at once 
volunteer for tlie war. . . . This order will be read to each regiment 
of the command at dress parade this day. 

D. B. BiRNEV, 

Major- General CommaiuUng Divifioiu 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 263 

Our camp had now been arranged in good order, each tent 
having from two to four occupants, and furnished with a good 
fire apparatus, wliich made our quarters comfortable during 
the cool weather. At first plenty of wood was near the camp, 
but later it had to be drawn from a distance. Sometimes the 
changes in infantry camps left us a supply of fuel. 

During the latter part of January a board roof was built 
over the horses which completely protected them from the 
rain. The sides of the stable enclosure were also covered 
with additional boughs of cedar, which made the stables quite 
comfortable for the horses, and for the men while grooming 
them. 

Many boxes of eatables were received from friends at home, 
and with the supplies bought from the sutlers, we were well 
furnished with all that was necessary for our comfort in the 
way of rations. The officers' quarters were pleasantly ar- 
ranged for comfort, and, having good cooks and plenty of 
money, it was their fault if they failed to enjoy themselves. 

Shortly after being settled for the winter the non-commis- 
sioned officers were required to recite lessons in artillery tac- 
tics to the commissioned officers, which, if not desirable, was 
very useful to both. 

January 15th, Lieutenant Allen received a leave of absence 
for ten days. 

On the 2ist, we were inspected by Captain Robinson, of 
the Fourth Maine battery, who was now acting as chief of ar- 
tillery. 

January 26th, the Soldiers' Memorial, which had been sub- 
scribed for by quite a large number of the battery men, 
arrived. It was finely engraved, and will ever be highly 
prized by all who received it. It gave a roster of the battery 
by detachments, and also a list of deceased members, and 
those killed and discharged, etc. 

February ist. Corporals Edward A. Chandler and George 
Lewis, and private Albert M. Bennett, after a month of re- 
flection, decided to re-enlist, and they were sworn into the 
United States service for three years by Lieut. James A. 
Walker. Martin Harvey returned from the hospital, having 
been wounded at Kelley's Ford, Nov. 7, 1863. 

February 3d. Sergt. George Humphrey, Corporals Gard- 
ner and Bennett, with most of the others who had re-enlisted, 



264 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Feb., 

returned from home, having been on furloughs as veterans. 
On the 5th, Sergt. George W. H. Allen also returned as a 
veteran. Sergeant Allen and Corporal Bennett had been be- 
fore the Casey Board while at Washington, for commissions, to 
which future reference will be made. 

February 6th. Applications for veteran furloughs were 
sent in for Corporals Chandler and Lewis, private Albert M. 
Bennett and others. On this day there was considerable 
skirmishing towards the Rapidan by the cavalry. We also 
received orders to be ready to move at short notice. 

February 7th. Reveille at four a. m. Hitched up at day- 
light and moved soon after sunrise, went through Culpepper, 
then marched towards Raccoon Ford, passed Pony Mountain, 
and halted about four miles from the Rapidan. There we fed 
our horses, and, after remaining an hour or two, orders came 
to return to camp, where we arrived at eleven p. m., the horses 
and men being much fatigued by marching over muddy 
roads. This movement was made at the request of General 
Butler to General Sedgwick (who was then in temporary com- 
mand of the army in the absence of General Meade) who de- 
sired to make a move against Richmond. Of this event Gen- 
eral Humphreys says: "Under the orders of General But- 
ler, General Wistar, with 4,000 infantry and 2,200 cavalry, 
left Williamsburg on Saturday morning, the 6th of February, 
to make a dash on Richmond, and release the military 
prisoners there. He arrived at Bottom Bridge, on the 
Chickahominy, about thirteen miles from Richmond, on the 
morning of the 7th, and found the enemy there in force, and 
constantly receiving reinforcements by railroad. As it was 
evident that the enemy had been made aware of the designs 
against Richmond, . . . General Wistar withdrew." 

The First, Second, and Third corps took part in this move- 
ment. The First and Second corps moved on the 6th. 
Demonstrations were made by our cavalry at the fords on the 
Rapidan on the 6th and 7th. The Second corps crossed the 
river and Hay's division was engaged, and lost about two hun- 
dred men killed and wounded. 

February 8tb, the welcome pay-rolls were signed. Sergt. 
Charles P. Williams was promoted to first sergeant. Corpo- 
rals James A. Tanner and lulward Chandler were promoted 
to lance sergeants, the former being assigned to the sixth 




Lieut. Herbert F. Bennett. 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 265 

piece and the latter to the fifth. Corp. George Lewis was 
promoted to gunner of the fifth piece, vice Corporal Hill 
promoted to lieutenant. Priv^ates Jerahmeel Dexter, John 
Slocum, Charles W. Robbins, and Nathan P. Taber were pro- 
moted to corporals. 

February 9th, our paymaster made his welcome visit. The 
veterans not having been paid, received besides their regular 
three months' pay (which for corporals was $14 per month 
and for privates $13), one month in advance, $13, bounty 
down ($60), and bounty due at discharge ($[O0), making a 
total for privates of $212. This for an enlisted soldierseemed 
like a large sum, yet it would only pay a good mechanic for 
about three months' work. 

February iith, Corp. Herbert F. Bennett departed for 
Rhode Island, he having been commissioned as second lieu- 
tenant and assigned to Company L, Fourteenth Rhode Island 
Heavy Artillery- Bennett was the second corporal that had 
left the battery to accept promotion within two months, and 
both were under twenty years of age at the time of receiving 
their commissions. His ancestors on his father's side de- 
scended from good old Connecticut stock. His grandfather, 
Reuben S. Bennett, was born in Killingly, Conn., Aug. 4, 
1793, his grandmother, Anna Hicks Bennett, in Uxbridge, 
Mass., June 16, 1791. His father was Bela VV. P. Bennett, 
who was born in Cranston, R. I., April 3, 18 19, and during 
the early part of his life carried on the wheelwright business 
in company with his father in the town of Hopkinton, R. I. 
About 1850 he moved to Providence, where for many years 
he has been engaged in the jewelry and die cutting business. 
He has been a deacon of the Stewart Street Baptist Church 
since its organization in 1851. His mother was Clarissa G. 
Brown, daughter of Christopher Brown and Nancy A. Pen- 
dleton (daughter of General Pendleton, of Westerly, R. I.) 
This excellent mother died when Herbert was a lad of nine 
years. Herbert has one own sister living, there being also 
two half sisters and two half brothers, his father having mar- 
ried again in January, 1855. Herbert F. Bennett was born in 
the town of Hopkinton, R. I., March 18, 1844. When he was 
about six years old his parents moved to Providence, where 
he attended the public schools until he enlisted in Battery E, 
First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery. Hewasmus- 



266 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Feb., 

tered in Sept. 30, 1861. No one then thought that one so 
modest and having such a youthful face would so soon be 
wearing an officer's insignia. But time revealed that he pos- 
sessed \he qualities for an officer, and was promoted to cor- 
poral Jan. 4, 1863, at Camp Pitcher, near Falmouth, Va. An 
incident occurred when he was a lead driver on the caisson 
which showed his proficiency in battery movements. While 
out on field drill an order was given that required an unusual 
movement of the caisson, and in which every caisson driver 
except Bennett made a mistake, which resulted in the teams 
of his section being completely entangled. For this sup- 
posed mistake the lieutenant of that section very severely 
reprimanded him. Captain Randolph, hearing this, rode to 
the spot and said, " One moment, lieutenant." Then turning 
to young Bennett said, " I congratulate you upon being the 
only one that has executed the movement correctly." This, 
of course, was very gratifying to him, but not so to the lieu- 
tenant, who felt keenly the rebuke given him by the captain. 
Corporal Bennett was in all the battles in which his battery 
participated previous to his promotion except that of Gettys- 
burg, he then being absent on sick furlough. He re-enlisted 
Dec. 23, 1863, and was sworn into service on the 24th. All 
who then re-enlisted were entitled to a furlough of thirty-five 
days, and he, on his return from his furlough, stopped at 
Washington and was examined before a board of officers, of 
which General Casey was president, and, after an exacting ex- 
amination, received his commission as second lieutenant, 
which was dated Feb. 3, 1863. After a short tarry in Provi- 
dence he reported to his battalion at Dutch Island for duty. 
On the 3d of April he sailed with the battalion, under com- 
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Viall, in the transport America 
for New Orleans, which place he reached April 15th. After 
his arrival he was detailed as an assistant to Capt. Samuel 
Farnum, engineer in charge of the fortifications at Camp Par- 
apet, La. Company L, to which he belonged, was detailed 
to take charge of Fort Banks, La., on the west side of the 
Mississippi River, where it remained until mustered out, 
which was on Oct 2, 1865. The final muster out was at 
Providence, R. I., October 28th. 

One year after the war he moved to Bristol, and was em- 
ployed as conductor on the Providence and Bristol Railroad, 



IS6-4.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 267 

which position he held until 1882, when he was elected Town 
Clerk of the town of Bristol, R. I., which office he now (1891) 
holds. He was elected a member of the General Assembly 
from the town of Bristol during the years of 188 1-2, and was 
a quiet but valuable member. He is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and was commander of Babbitt Post 
during the years of 1888, 1889, and 1890. He is also a mem- 
ber of the First Rhode Island Light Artillery Veteran Asso- 
ciation. Oct. 19, 1870, Lieiitenant Bennett was married to 
Emma S. Gilmore, daughter of the late Capt. John Gilmore, 
of Providence, who was a sea captain in the merchant service 
between Boston and Europe. Mrs. Bennett is a most excel- 
lent woman, possessing fine ability, and was educated in the 
public schools of Providence and at the private academy in 
Walpole, JVFass. Lieutenant Bennett has one child, a daugh- 
ter. 

In concluding this sketch it should be said that Lieuten- 
ant Bennett never failed to resist the many temptations 
which beset every soldier, and his conduct in the army, as it 
had been before and since, was such as to give satisfaction to 
his friends, besides being a high honor to himself. 

February 17th, the writer's diary reads as follows : " Left 
camp with Sergeant Chandler, privates Bennett, Steamer, and 
John and David Riley, for home on a furlough. Left Brandy 
Station at ten a. m., went to the War Department and got 
transportation papers. Left Washington at eight p. m., and 
reached New York about ten a. m. on the i8th. Left New 
York near midday on the Shore Line route, and reached 
home at 9.30 p. m. 

After remaining in Rhode Island during the term of our 
thirty-five days' furlough, our time, with that of all the other 
Rhode Island soldiers who were on furlough, was extended 
until after the state election, which was on the 6th of April, 
thus giving us fifty days' furlough." 

For the incidents in the history of the battery during this 
absence I am indebted to Lieutenant Humphrey, and to the 
families of our late comrades Sergeants Williams and Tanner, 
and to Sergeant Hargraves, who kindly loaned to me their 
diaries kept by them during their service in the battery. 

February i8th, Ouartermaster-Sergt. Benjamin N. Reming- 
ton and private John McAlees were ordered to Rhode Island 



268 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Feb., 

on recruiting service, and Sergeant Humphrey was ordered 
to act as quartermaster during Remington's absence. 

February 19th. Sergt. Seth B. Darling and Corporals 
Thomas T. Beard and John J. Mulhall were reduced to the 
ranks. 

Darling was reduced at his own request. He had served 
faithfully from the beginning of the service of the battery, 
was one of the original corporals, was promoted sergeant Oct. 

7, 1862, and had acted as first sergeant from July 3 to^ Feb. 

8, 1864. It is supposed that on account of the promotion of 
Sergeant Williams over him he chose to be reduced, rather 
than to continue sergeant. Perhaps he acted unwisely, and 
had better continued, although he may have been unjustly 
served. Privates Otto Wilder, William Torpy and George H. 
Pierce were promoted to corporals, and Corporal Austin was 
transferred from the third to the fourth detachment. 

February 21st. James Fitzpatrick, who was taken prisoner 
at Chancellorsville May 2, 1863, returned to the battery, hav- 
ing been awhile in the invalid corps after being exchanged. 

P'ebruary 26th. Corp. Jerahmeel Dexter and private Nick- 
erson and James Fitzpatrick were sworn mto the service as 
veterans. 

During the last few days of February the "battery" was 
painted and put in prime order. On the 28th the battery was 
under marching orders with three days' rations. This order 
was to assist another move upon Richmond to liberate^ the 
prisoners, and, if possible, to march them within our lines. 
The Sixth corps moved on the 27th. If necessary, the Third 
corps was to follow on the 28th, and, if required, the whole 
army was to follow. It was in this daring raid under Kilpat- 
rick that the brave and intrepid Colonel Dahlgren, in an ef- 
fort to enter Richmond from the south, lost his life. 

During the first week in March but little of interest trans- 
pired, only the regular routine duties. The " men " had, 
however, commenced to build a theatre in which much enjoy- 
ment was anticipated. As the company was short of officers, 
P^irst Sergeant Williams acted for a while as officer of the 
day, while Sergeant Margraves acted as first sergeant. 

March 8th. Lieutenant PVeeborn received a leave of ab- 
sence for fifteen days. Sergt. George W. H. Allen started 
for Rhode Island, he having received an order for his dis- 




1st Lieut. Geo. W. H. Allen. 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 269 

charge, to accept promotion, and ordering him to report to 
Rhode Island for assignment. This order should have been 
received a month sooner, but it had been sent by mistake to 
Battery F, which was doing service in another department. 

Sergeant Allen was born May 25, 1842, in the town of 
Scituate, R. I. He was the youngest of six children, there 
being three daughters and three sons. His father was the 
Rev. Reuben Allen, a widely known pioneer minister in the 
Free Baptist denomination, and who married, for his first 
wife, Alice A. G. Sanborn, who died about one year after, 
leaving no child. In 1824 he married, for his second wife, 
Phebe Leonard, the only child of Ichabod Leonard, well 
known in Taunton, Mass. Mrs. Allen was a worthy and in- 
telligent woman, and a devoted wife, being always deeply in- 
terested in the welfare and happiness of her family. Mr. 
Allen organized several churches, and preached in New 
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and in a large number 
of towns in Rhode Island, and was pastor of the North Scitu- 
ate Church for nearly twenty years. He died May 30, 1872, 
at the age of seventy-seven years. During his ministerial 
life he baptized about fourteen hundred persons and attended 
nearly sixteen hundrd funerals, and married 500 couples. 
It was while he was pastor of the Scituate Church that the 
subject of our sketch was born. In his early life Sergeant 
Allen worked at farming. He was educated in the dis- 
trict schools of his town and at Smithville Seminary, after- 
wards known as Lapham Institute, which he entered at the 
age of thirteen, and from which he graduated in the autumn 
of 1857. Soon after leaving the seminary he entered the 
employ of his brothers who were manufacturers of jewelry in 
Providence. He remained with them until the spring of 
1861, when he returned to his father's home at Scituate, and 
staid until the following September. At that time Battery 
E was being recruited, and quite largely from the country 
towns, and from none was there a more desirable class than 
those enlisting from the town of Scituate. One of these was 
George W. H. Allen, and he was mustered into the service 
with the battery Sept. 30, 1861. This engagement was for 
three years, or during the war. But it must not be forgotten 
that between the dates of his enlistment and muster he en- 
tered also into another engagement. The latter was limited 



270 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 

to no term of years, but was to be for better or worse, and to 
continue during life. The other party to this contract was 
an amiable lady by the name of Anna L. Lake, daughter of 
Alexander and Abbie (Hancock) Lake, of Providence. Mrs. 
Allen is an intelligent and highly-esteemed woman, and has 
has the happy faculty of winning the friendship of all with 
whom she comes in contact. Three children have been born 
to them, two boys and one girl. The daughter, a bright and 
promising young lady, is the only one living. 

Mr. Allen enlisted as a private, but, two months after, was 
promoted to second corporal. On July i, 1862, he was com- 
plimented by Captain Randolph for meritorious conduct at 
the battle of Charles City Cross Roads the day before, and, at 
the same time, he was advanced to gunner of the fifth piece, 
and served as such at the battles of Malvern Hill, Harrison's 
Landing, Second Bull Run, and Chantilly. 

Nov. 21, 1862, he was promoted to sergeant in place of 
Sergeant Milne, who was assigned to Battery B as second lieu- 
tenant. As 'sergeant he served with distinction at the bat- 
tles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Kelley's 
Ford, Payne's Farm, and Mine Run. Li after years Lieuten- 
ant Bucklyn, in writing of his non-commissioned officers at 
Gettysburg, mentions Sergeant Allen as one of several 
who had the "ability to command a battery," the truth of 
which his subsequent history has fully proved. 

In the promotion of Sergeant Allen Battery E lost one of 
its best and most popular men. He was especially liked by 
the men for his social and jovial nature, and for having al- 
ways a pleasant greeting for his comrades whenever met. 
But few, if any, were better posted in the battery drill, and, 
having a remarkable memory, he seldom hesitated as to the 
move to make in the execution of an order. Although pos- 
sessing a social nature he never failed to maintain proper dis- 
cipline, not by severe measures, but, rather, by the respect 
which he won from the men in his detachment. As before 
stated, Sergeant Allen left the battery on the 8th of March, 
expecting to receive his commission upon his reaching Rhode 
Lsland, but, for some cause, there was a delay of nearly two 
weeks. It had been made out and dated Feb. 4, 1864, and 
sent to the headquarters of the P^ourteenth Rhode Island 
Regiment. In due time he learned of its whereabouts, and, 



1864] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 2'Jl 

upon its reception, he was mustered into the service on the 
23d of March. Lieutenant Allen had passed the Casey Board 
as captain, and was to have been assigned to some regiment 
not from Rhode Island. Preferring to serve his native state, 
and there being no vacancy there as captain, he accepted a 
first lieutenant's commission and was assigned to Company 
L, Fourteenth Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (col- 
ored). 

On the 3d of April Lieutenant Allen, with the Third bat- 
talion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Viall, sailed 
upon the transport America for New Orleans, which place it 
reached on the 15th, and was ordered to Camp Parapet. 
Here Lieutenant-Colonel Viall assumed command of the post, 
which left the command of the battalion upon Captain Far- 
num. " Immediately after encamping at Fort Parapet, fatigue 
parties were organized to work on the fortifications, and, for 
two months the battalion furnished details for the swamps 
and slashings on the right." 

Lieutenant Allen remained with the battalion but a small 
portion of his time. He was detailed as aide-de-camp on 
Col. (afterwards General) Robert Wilson's staff; April 21, 
1864, relieved from duty as aide-de-camp and appointed adju- 
tant of Third battalion July 5, 1864. 

When Lieutenant-Colonel Viall assumed command of the 
district of Carrollton in January, 1865, Lieutenant Allen was 
appointed acting assistant adjutant-general of the district, and 
served until May 12, 1865. 

When Colonel Jones, of an Indiana regiment, assumed com- 
mand July I, 1865, he was ordered to Columbus, Miss., in 
charge of the remaining portion of the Si.xteenth Indiana 
Regiment, to be sent on transports or by water and consoli- 
dated with the Third Indiana. He returned July 12th, and on 
•the 29th was detailed as a member of General Court Martial 
Department of Louisiana and Texas, from which he was re- 
lieved Sept. 6, 1865, to be mustered out of the department, 
which occurred Oct. 2, 1865. 

On the 7th, the Fourteenth Rhode Island Regiment sailed 
■for Rhode Island, and reached Providence on the 21st, being- 
received by a salute fired by the Marine Artillery. The regi- 
ment was marched to Old City Hall where a bountiful colla- 
tion was served by L. H. Humphreys, after which the regi- 



272 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 

ment was reformed and marched to Exchange Place, where a 
dress parade took place in presence of Governor Smith and 
staff. After marching in review by the governor at his head- 
quarters it embarked for Portsmouth Grove, where, on the 
28th, the final muster out occurred. 

Soon after his muster out Lieutenant Allen entered the em- 
ploy of the Gorham Manufacturing Company, on North Main 
Street, Providence, R. I., remaining there about one year. 
He then went to Waltham, Mass., worked about six years in 
the Waltham Watch Factory, and then returned to Provi- 
dence and began business for himself as an engine turner, in 
which business he still (1891) continues. Lieutenant Allen 
takes a deep interest in several orders, and when at Waltham, 
joined the Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand. 
He was one of the charter members of Rhode Island Coun- 
cil in the Order of United Friends, is a past grand councillor 
and a member of the Imperial Council of that order. In 
June, 1887, he became a member of Burnside Council, being 
one of its charter members, and is still one of its most active 
members. He was for two years deputy of Tecumseh Coun- 
cil. He is a comrade of Slocum Post, Grand Army of the 
Republic, and a member of the Rhode Island Light Artillery 
Veteran Association. He is also secretary of the National Fra- 
ternal and Beneficial Union, which was organized in May, 
1890, and of which he was one of the most active founders. 

March 9, 1864, General Grant received his commission as 
lieutenant-general and was assigned to the command of the 
armies. On the loth he visited General Meade at his head- 
quarters near Brandy Station, Va., and announced to him his 
intention of making his headquarters with that army. This 
was not to interfere with General Meade's continuing as im- 
mediate commander of the Army of the Potomac. 

March 12th, Lieutenant Jastram, who was on detail service 
at brigade headquarters, returned from a leave of absence. 

During the pleasant days of March the battery resumed its 
field drills and inspections were frequent, sometimes by 
Lieutenant Bucklyn, and occasionally by Captain Robinson, 
acting chief of artillery. 

On March i6th, the troops of the grand old Third corps 
were reviewed as a corps for the last time, Generals French, 
Sedgwick and others being present. Battery E was present 



1864.] FIRST R, I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 273 

with Sergeant Humphrey as chief of left section. The corps 
presented a fine appearance, but the day being wet and chilly, 
it was not a very agreeable time. Had it been known that it 
was a farewell to the Third corps it would have been still 
more unpleasant. 

March 17th, we dedicated the company "theatre" by a 
negro concert. These entertainments, with variations, were 
repeated several times during the month. 

March i8th, the rebels made a threatening movement — 
hence marching orders. 

March 22d. Inspection by Captain Robinson, which was 
followed by a fall of snow some eight or ten inches in depth. 

March 23d. By the previous recommendation of General 
Meade, an order was issued by the War Department for the 
consolidation of the five infantry corps of the Army of the 
Potomac into three, the Second, Fifth, and Sixth corps to be 
retained, and the divisions of the First and Third transferred 
to the retained corps. But their corps and division badges 
were to be retained. The new Second corps consisted of the 
old Second formed in two divisions and the First and Second 
divisions of the old Third corps. The First corps was con- 
solidated with the Fifth. The Third division of the Third 
corps, with Battery E, of Rhode Island, was transferred to 
the Sixth corps, its infantry forming the Third division. An 
order to this effect was issued by Meade March 24th. The 
artillery of the Third corps continued, however, to draw its 
rations from the old Third Corps Artillery brigade until its 
supplies on hand were exhausted, which was about the 6th of 
April. Our separation from the Third corps was by no 
means agreeable. No other corps had excelled it in disci- 
pline and courage on the many battlefields under the com- 
mand of such brave and gallant generals as Heintzelman, 
Stoneman, and Sickles. Among its division commanders 
were the peerless Kearny, the dashing Hooker, and the no 
less brave and steadfast Birney, Berry, Humphreys, and 
Whipple. Generals Ward, Robinson, DeTrobriand, and Gra- 
ham, who were among its brigade commanders, were also 
brave and gallant officers, of whom any corps might be 
proud. 

March 24th, General Grant arrived at headquarters for a 
permanent stay. The battery was hitched up, expecting to 

18 



2 74 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April. 

be reviewed, with other troops, by General Grant, but we 
were disappointed. 

On March 27th, James Macoon, Hiram Brant, and one or 
two other recruits arrived. , . a -i 

The last week in March and the first week m April were 
rainv and disagreeable, and but little of interest occurred 

On April 4th, Albert Saunders, Luther Childs, and Standish 
P Read were returned to the Seventeenth Maine Reginient, 
from which they were detailed probably May 9, 1863. Dur- 
ing the night of the 4th or early in the morning of the 5th 
some malicious persons cut and otherwise injured quite a 
number of bridles and nose bags, but for what reason it was 
never divined. Lance Sergeants Edward A. Chandler and 
Tames A Tanner were promoted to sergeants April 6th. 
. On the 6th of April Lieutenant Jastram having previously 
resigned, bade farewell to his many army comrades and 
started for Rhode Island. At the outbreak of the Rebellion 
Tastram was clerk in the banking house of Clapp, i^ ullei & 
Brown, of Boston, Mass. When the call for seventy-five 
thousand troops was issued by the President on the 15th of 
April, 1 86 1, he immediately resigned his position, returned 
to Providence, and was one of the first to enlist in the J^ irst 
Rhode Island Regiment, serving as private during its three 
months' service. He passed unharmed through the first bat- 
tle of Bull Run and was mustered out Aug. 2, 1861. Oct. 
16, t86i, he received a first lieutenant's commission, and was 
assigned to Battery E as junior officer, vice George C. De 
Kay, who declined his commission. After Bucklyn s promo- 
tion Jastram commanded the left section. Upon Lieutenant 
Arnold's being disabled near Hampton, Va., on the 2bth ot 
March he was assigned to the right section, and commanded 
it at the siege of Yorktown and battle of Williamsburg, 
being relieved by Lieutenant Arnold, who returned June 24, 
1862. He then returned to the left section, relieving Lieu- 
tenant Bucklyn. On the 12th of December, 1862, the day 
before the battle of Fredericksburg, he assumed command 
of the battery, and fought his command with marked ability 
at the battles of Fredericksburg and ChancellorsviUe. May 
15, 1863, he was appointed acting assistant adjutant-general 
on Captain Randolph's staff, which position he held until the 
duties relating to the consolidation of the Third corps were 



1864] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 275 

completed. He resigned March 29, 1864, taking his depart- 
ure from the army on the 6th of April. 

Lieutenant Jastram's great grandfather was a Frenchman. 
His grandfather, Mawney Jastram, was a grain merchant of 
Providence, who married Mary Bacon, also of Providence. 
His father, George Bacon Jastram, was born in Providence, 
R. I., Aug. 21, 1813, and for awhile was associated with his 
father in the grain business. He was teller in the old Provi- 
dence Bank from 1841 to 1858, was also secretary of the 
Providence Institution for Savings, was for four years City 
auditor ; also treasurer of the First Baptist Society, an active 
member of the Light Lifantry, and a member of the School 
Committee, a member of the Historical Society, and of the 
Society of Domestic Industry. From 1858 to about 1868 he 
was in the banking business. After this he went to St. Louis 
and again entered the banking business, where he remained 
only two or three years. Later we find him in the same 
business in Georgetown, Col., where he died Dec. 2, 1879. 
Lieutenant Jastram's mother was Abby Maria Bigelow, of 
Providence, R. I., daughter of William Bigelow, an old sea 
captain, who died when his daughter was four years old. 

Mrs. Jastram died six days after her husband at the age of 
sixty five years. George B. Jastram had two children, Par- 
don S., the subject of this sketch, and one daughter, who 
married Richard Kidder Randolph, a brother of Col. George 
E. Randolph. She died in 1875, leaving one daughter who 
is now married. 

Pardon S. Jastram was born Nov. 15, 1838, in the city of 
Providence, and was educated at the public schools and at 
Brown University. He entered the latter institution in Sep- 
tember. 1856, graduating in i860. 

After leaving the army he went into the banking business 
with his father, remaining with him until 1866, when he went 
to California, where he was engaged in mining for about 
eighteen months. Returning to Rhode Island he became 
clerk for the Neptune line of steamers, in which position .he 
remained for a year or two. In 1871 he entered the service 
of the Union Oil Co., as bookkeeper, where, for twenty 
years, he has faithfully performed the usual duties of a secre- 
tary of such association. 



276 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

Lieutenant Jastram for many years has been a member of 
the Massachusetts Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the 
United States, is a member of Slocum Post, No. 10, G. A. R., 
of Providence, R. I., and is an active member of the Soldiers 
and Sailors Historical Society of Providence. Dec. 14, 1869, 
he was united in marriage to Julia A. Brown, the accom- 
plished daughter of William Whipple and Maria (Perkins) 
Brown. Mrs. Jastram was educated in the public schools of 
Providence, entering the High School in 1856. But few are 
more social and entertaining in manner than Mrs. Jastram. 
Mr. and Mrs. Jastram have a pleasant home, and are blessed 
writh two bright and promising children, a son and a daughter. 
The son is now (1891) a student at Brown University. Mr. 
Jastram, although not belonging to many societies, is, never- 
theless, very popular and has a host of friends, among whom 
none are more welcome to his home than his old army com- 
rades. 

April 8th. Corporal Lewis returned from furlough, and 
on the 9th was ordered to act as lance sergeant of the fourth 
detachment. This was Sergt. William Milieu's old detach- 
ment which had been commanded by Corporal Beard during 
Milieu's absence at the Third corps artillery headquarters. 
After the affairs of the corps were closed up, Millen, on the 
1 2th of April, returned to the battery and acted, during the 
remainder of that month as chief of the left section. 

Had there been no change in the commanding officer of the 
battery he probably would have been commissioned as second 
lieutenant, as he should have been long before. As it was, 
he preferred to be commissary sergeant of the Sixth corps ar- 
tillery brigade, and assumed the duties of that position on the 
3d of May, 1864. He faithfully performed that important 
trust until his term of service expired in September, 1864. 

Sergeant Chandler, privates Hughes and Steamer returned 
frqm furlough on the 9th. 

April 1 2th. Privates A. M. Bennett and Wingler returned 
from furloughs. Quartermaster Remington also returned 
from recruiting service, bringing with him four recruits, Mala- 
chi Gunning, Francis O'Meara, Simon W. Keene and John 
E. Johnston. We were paid off by Major Webb, and had an 
inspection by Lieutenant Bucklyn, having also a field drill. 



1864] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 277 

On this day we received information that Captain Rhodes 
was to be our commanding officer. 

April 14th. The writer received an order to report to 
Washington for examination before the Casey Board for 
commission in colored regiment, but a leave of absence for 
that purpose was refused by General Sedgwick, as no more 
applications for that object were to be granted by orders 
from army headquarters. It was the writer's intention to 
have appeared before the Board while returning from his fur- 
lough, and made an application to do so while in Washing- 
ton, but without waiting for an answer, returned to the bat- 
tery. 

April 15th. Two more veterans, Corp. J. Dexter and pri- 
vate Fitzpatrick left for home on furloughs. On the i8th, 
the Sixth corps was reviewed by Generals Grant, Sedgwick, 
Meade and others, but, owing to the uneven ground, the re- 
view was not a success. While returning to camp one of 
Sergeant Humphrey's horses dropped dead. 

April 19th and 20th. Our camp was remodeled and moved 
a few feet to the west. 

April 2ist. The battery was taken across the Hazel River 
for the purpose of target practice. 

April 22d. Artillery brigade reviewed by Colonel Tomp- 
kins and staff. Seven batteries passed in review. Two of 
our men, Hallison P. Hale and Andrew J. Brown, preparing 
to leave for the navy. 

April 23d. Capt. William B. Rhodes and First Lieut. Ezra 
K. Parker arrived in camp, having been assigned to duty in 
Battery E An inspection of camp and clothing by Col. 
Charles H. Tompkins, chief of Si.xth corps artillery. 

April 24th. Sunday inspection by Lieutenant Bucklyn, 
accompanied by the new officers. Corporal Gardiner sent to 
the hospital sick. 

April 26th. Had a field drill by Captain Rhodes, who as- 
sumed command to-day. These drills were continued daily 
for several days. 

Ten recruits were received from the Fourth New York 
Heavy Artillery on the 27th, but their stay was only tempo- 
rary. 

April 28th. Field drill by sections by Lieutenants Parker, 
Freeborn and Allen. Lieutenant Bucklyn was, to-day, and 



2 7^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

had, for several days, been engaged in transferring the bat- 
tery and ordnance stores to Captain Rhodes. 

April 30th. We were mustered for pay by Capt. Richard 
Waterman, of Battery C, of Rhode Island. 

May 1st. Every indication of a movement. Burnside's 
Ninth corps had arrived near Brandy Station, and orderlies 
and staff officers were on the alert conveying orders to the 
various commands throughout the army. 

May 3d. Captain Rhodes called together his chiefs of 
pieces, telling them that in the future he should hold each of 
them responsible for the conduct of the men in their detach- 
ments, and punishment, if needed, must be administered by 
their authority. Orders also came to be ready to move on 
the morrow. 

Our tents were taken down and our tarpaulins were pitched 
for a substitute. We were not sorry to leave this camp, al- 
though we had been there since the loth of November last 
and had enjoyed many hours of pleasure during that interval 
of nearly six months. The Rebellion could not be crushed 
by the troops remaining idle in their camps. That we had a 
severe campaign before us the character of General Grant 
gave us no reason to doubt. We did, however, regret that 
Lieutenant Bucklyn was not to remain with us, for we had 
learned that he was to leave us to-day, as he had been ap- 
pointed upon Col. Charles H.Tompkins's staff, who was chief 
of the Sixth Corps Artillery. Bucklyn was to have charge of 
the ammunition train and such other duties as the exigencies 
of the campaign might require. 

Captain Randolph had shortly before resigned, and he was 
followed by Lieutenant Jastram, which vacancy was filled by 
First Lieut. Ezra K. Parker, from Battery D. Now Lieutenant 
Bucklyn was to leave us also, and, besides, we had also been 
assigned to another corps. With all these changes it seemed 
too much like breaking up housekeeping. 

Captain Rhodes had done honorable service in Battery G 
and D as first lieutenant, and although highly recommended 
by his friends for the captaincy of I3attery E, still, however 
excellent an officer he may have been, it is no reflection upon 
him to say that Lieutenant Bucklyn should have been captain 
instead of Rhodes. 



iSfH] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 279 

Lieutenant Bucklyn had proved himself an able and honor- 
able commander. The men in his battery were almost unan- 
imously in his favor, and, as Governor Smith had promised 
the command to him, and had so stated to Bucklyn's friends, 
it was not justice nor wise policy to do otherwise than as he 
had promised. That the Governor saw his mistake is evi- 
dent, as he subsequently apologized to Bucklyn for not keep- 
inghis promise. The following endorsements are alone suffi- 
cient evidence for Bucklyn's appointment : 

HEADquARTERS Second DIVISION, Second Ar.my Corps, 1 
Dec. 30, 1863. J 

Having been major of the First Regiment, Rhode Island Artillery, 
Army of the Potomac, for more than a year, I feel competent to recom- 
mend to the Governor of Rhode Island First Lieut. J. K. Bucklyn, Bat- 
tery E, for proinotion to the captaincy of said battery, vice George E. 
Randolph, resigned. 

Alex. S. Webb, 
Brigadier-Geyieral Commaitdiug Division. 



The following is from an officer whose indorsement is equal, 
if not superior, to any other officer in the Army of the Poto- 
mac : 



Artillery Headquarters, Army of the Potomac. 

To His Excellency James Y. Smith, Governor of Rhode Island : 

Sir : I have respectfully to recommend to Your Excellencv the promo- 
tion of Lieut. John K. Bucklyn to the captaincy of Battery E, First 
Rhode Island Artillery, made vacant by the resignation of Capt. G. E. 
Randolph. Lieutenant Bucklyn has served with the battery from its or- 
ganization and through all the campaign of the army from Yorktown to 
Gettysburg. In the last named, battle he commanded the battery with 
ability and proved his competency for the position. His character as an 
officer stands high, and I am certain that he will justify his promotion, if 
made, in the future, as he established his claim to it in the past. 

I have the honor to be 

Your obedient servant, 

Henry J. Hunt, 

Brigiidier-Genenil, Chief of Artillery, A. P. 



28o HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

Although keenly disappointed, Lieutenant Bucklyn carried 
to his new field of labor the same enthusiasm and loyalty 
that he had ever manifested in previous commands. It can 
be said of equal truth that the men of Battery E were deter- 
mined, under their new captain, to maintain the good repu- 
tation of the battery which it had won under its former ex- 
cellent commanders, and if it failed to do so it should be no 
fault of theirs. 




Brevet Major Wm. B. Rhodes. 



iS64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 28 1 



CHAPTER XX. 

May-1864, 

Battle of Wilderness. 

AT the commencement of General Grant's campaign the 
officers of Battery E were Capt. William B. Rhodes, 
First Lieut. John K. Bucklyn (on detached service), 
First Lieut. Ezra K. Parker, right section ; Second Lieut. 
Benjamin Freeborn, left section ; and Second Lieut. James 
F. Allen, centre section. The chiefs of pieces were Sergt. 
James Donnelly, first piece ; Sergt. George Himiphrey, sec- 
ond piece ; Sergt. Arthur W. Hargraves, third piece ; Lance 
Sergt. George Lewis, fourth piece ; Sergt. Edward A. Chan- 
dler, fifth piece ; Sergt. James A. Tanner, sixth piece. 

Lieutenant Bucklyn writes *' that warrants were previously 
made out by him for these non-commissioned officers, but 
Colonel Tompkins delayed the signing of them until he 
(Bucklyn) received his commission as captain, but as he did 
not then receive it the warrants were not given." Owing to 
the many changes in the corporals it would be useless to at- 
tempt to place them in the detachments to which they be- 
longed, but the following is a list of them at that time. They 
are given in the order of their appointment : Allen Gardiner, 
John M. Battey, William S. Blair, Samuel W. Austin, John 
Slocum, Charles W. Robbins, Nathan P. Tabor, John Cun- 
ningham, Jerahmeel De.xter, Otto Wilder, William Torpy, 
George H. Pierce, Chandler Lindsey, and John Harrihan. 
Several of these were lance corporals. 

Corporal Gardiner had previously passed the Casey Board 
as second lieutenant and was awaiting his assignment. 

On the 4th of May General Hancock was again in com- 
mand of the Second corps, the corps then having four divis- 



282 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May 

ions which were commanded by Generals Barlow, Gibbon, 
Birney, and Mott, in the order named. Birney's and Mott's 
division was composed of the old Third corps troops. "On 
the 13th of May," says Birney's bioc^rapher, "the Fourth 
(which was the Second division of the Third corps) was con- 
solidated with the Third division, so that by this arrange- 
ment, General Birney had under his command all that re- 
mained of the old Third corps. Birney's brigades were com- 
manded by Brigadier-Generals J. H. Hobart Ward, Alexan- 
der Hays and Gershom Mott." Two Rhode Island batteries,. 
A and B, were in this corps. General Warren, who had com- 
manded the Second corps during Hancock's absence since 
the battle of Gettysburg, was now in command of the Fifth 
corps, his divisions being in command of Generals Griffin, 
Robinson, Crawford and Wadsworth. 

The Si.xth corps, to which our battery was assigned, was 
commanded by Maj.-Gen. John Sedgwick. This corps had 
but three divisions, which were in command of Generals Ho- 
ratio G. Wright, George W. Getty, and James B. Ricketts. 
The artillery of this corps was composed of the Fourth Maine, 
First Massachusetts ; First and Third New York ; Fourth New 
York Heavy Artillery, First Battalion ; Fifth United States, 
Battery M ; and Batteries C, E, and G, of the First Rhode 
Island Light Artillery. The Second Rhode Island Regiment 
was also in this corps. This artillery brigade was commanded 
by Col. Charles H. Tompkins, of Rhode Island. 

The cavalry corps was under Maj.-Gen. Philip H. Sheri- 
dan. Its three divisions were commanded by Generals Tor- 
bert, Gregg, and Wilson. 

The Ninth corps was commanded by Gen. Ambrose E. 
Burnside, who received his orders direct from General Grant 
until the 24th of May, when it became a part of the Army of 
the Potomac. Its four divisions were commanded by Gen- 
erals Stevenson, Potter, Wilcox, and Ferrero. This last divi- 
sion was composed of colored troops. The Rhode Island 
batteries, D and H, belonged to this corps. 

The effective force of the army on May 4th was (including 
the Ninth corps) about 120,000 men and 274 guns. The 
Army of Northern Virginia, under General Lee, was composed 
of three infantry corps, the First being commanded by Lieut- 
Gen. James Longstreet, the Second by Lieut. -Gen. Richard 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 283 

S. Ewell, and the Third by Lieut. -Gen. Ambrose P. Hill. 
The cavalry corps was under the command of Maj.-Gen. James 
E. B. Stuart. The effective force of this army was about 62,- 
000 men, and about 224 guns. 

Two corps of Lee's army, previous to Grant's movement, 
had been encamped on the south side of the Rapidan, Ewell's 
corps near the river above Mine Run, Hill's on his left, higher 
up the stream, and Longstreet's at Gordorrville, Lee's head- 
quarters being near Orange Court House. It was General 
Grant's intention to move his army across the Rapidan and 
march it to the open country near Spottsylvania before offer- 
ing battle to the enemy. This was a similar movement to 
Hooker's at Chancellorsville, but Hooker had reached the 
Wilderness before Lee was aware of his presence, and had he 
moved promptly forward he would have reached the open 
country and could have fought the battle there, instead of 
fighting it where he did. This movement of General Grant 
the enemy saw from its beginning, and no time was given the 
Union army to reach its intended battlefield. The order for 
this movement was issued on the 2d of May, and, at midnight 
on the 3d, the army commenced to move. The Second corps, 
preceded by cavalry, crossed at Ely's Ford and moved to 
Chancellorsville. The Fifth and Sixth corps, preceded by 
Wilson's cavalry, crossed at Germania Ford. The head of 
the Sixth corps halted about three miles beyond the ford. 
The trains crossed at Ely's and Culpepper Mine Ford. They 
were covered by the cavalry and 1,200 infantry from each 
corps. The Second corps arrived at Chancellorsville about 
noon on the 4th, and the Fifth reached its position by two 
p. M. The Sixth corps did not reach its halting place until 
later. Three divisions of the Ninth corps crossed on the 5th, 
and the Fourth division (colored) crossed on the morning of 
the 6th. 

Battery E broke camp about four a. m., marched to Brandy 
Station, and there awaited the corps to pass, then moved 
through Stevensburg to Germania Ford, crossing over on pon- 
toons between three and four p. m., then marched between 
one and two miles and parked for the night on Smith's Plan- 
tation. 

During the night of the 4th a portion of each army had en- 
camped within three miles of each other, both being ignorant 



284 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

of each other's near presence. On the morning of the 5th 
the Fifth corps resumed its forward movement towards Par- 
ker's store. Ewell's and Hill's corps at the same time ad- 
vanced upon two parallel roads, and at an early hour struck 
Warren's corps (Fifth) in its centre and brought its movement 
to a halt. Then the battle commenced with great vigor on 
both sides. The enemy was at first repulsed and driven back, 
but being re-enforced, it again advanced with a heavy force, 
and drove Warren's unsupported corps some distance back. 
Hancock, who had already advanced beyond Chancellorsville, 
was ordered to return and form on Warren's left. For several 
hours the two forces were feeling for each other in the almost 
impenetrable woods. In the meantime Wright's and Rick- 
ett's divisions of the Sixth corps were in position on the right 
of the Fifth, and were soon hotly engaged, and repeatedly re- 
pulsed the assaults of the enemy. 

Hill with his rebel corps, in the meanwhile, was moving 
down the pike to assault Hancock before he could reach the 
contested ground, and, if possible, prevent his assisting the 
Fifth corps. Getty's division of the Si.Kth corps was sent to 
meet this move. On reaching the junction of the pike and 
Brock's road the two forces met and a sharp engagement 
commenced. Although being greatly outnumbered Getty's 
troops held on firmly until Hancock formed his corps in line 
of battle along the Brock's road. " The battle now," says 
Woodbury, "became general, and continued with great sever- 
ity until eight o'clock in the evening, when darkness stopped 
the fight. 

" Up and down the forest paths, among the underbrush, the 
contest was waged, but with no decisive results on either side. 
General Getty, with his division, fought with distinguished 
bravery, but with no notable advantage ; even Hancock, with 
characteristic energy, delivered with his corps repeated and 
desperate assaults. It was a fierce grapple, and when the 
night fell the exhausted combatants were glad to rest. Getty 
was wounded and General Neill succeeded to the command 
of the division." Our battery was not engaged in the con- 
flict on the 5th, as no good location, owing to the density of 
the woods, could be found to place a battery in position. 
We had left camp on the Smith Plantation at seven a. m., and 
soon after, Captain Rhodes received orders to drop out of line 



iS64] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 2S5 

his battery wagon, forge, and forage wagons, and be prepared 
to go into action. After reaching the Wilderness the battery- 
went into park with the Sixth corps artillery, near the head- 
quarters of Generals Grant and Meade, where we awaited, 
with anxiety, through the sleepless night, the result of the 
next day's battle. 

On the morning of the 6th the battery was aroused from 
its attempted slumbers at three a. m., but made no movement 
until later in the day. Before sunrise the two armies renewed 
the slaughter with greater fury than before. It was like no 
other battle. The men fought, as it were, by feeling their 
way. No precision was possible through the network of 
dwarf trees and shrubbery which covered the ground upon 
which the battle was fought. It was with difficulty that colo- 
nels could see the length of their regiments, and in the brig- 
ades it was difficult for the right to know what the left was 
doing, and the troops were obliged to approach each other to 
within a few yards before they could be seen. So confused 
and intermixed were the lines, it was said that some of our 
wounded were taken prisoners by a rebel regiment that had 
lost its way and wandered to our rear. 

Burnside's Ninth corps arrived during the morning, but it 
only cancelled Longstreet's corps which had arrived during 
the night. The fight commenced about five a. m. by an at- 
tack upon Sedgwick's right, and gradually extended the whole 
length of the line. Twice during the forenoon Sedgwick re- 
pulsed the enemy's left and drove his lines back some dis- 
tance. 

The enemy continued almost constantly to attack our lines 
first at one point, then at another. 

Hancock on the left had pushed Hill's corps back over 
one mile and took many prisoners, but his success was 
brought to an end by the arrival of Longstreet's corps, when, 
after a continued contest, Hancock was forced back to his 
former position. Some of Burnside's troops now came to 
aid Hancock ; Longstreet in turn was forced back, and in 
doing so was severely wounded and carried from the field. 
In this encounter General Wadsworth, one of the bravest and 
best in the army was mortally wounded and died on the 8th. 

During this time the battle was in progress on the right 
and centre, but not so severely, for the objective point of 



286 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

attack by Lee was on our left, by which Lee hoped to force 
our army back toward the Rapidan. After Longstreet was 
wounded it is said General Lee himself took command of the 
First rebel corps, and with that of Hill's hurled them against 
Hancock, who at that time was supported by a part of the 
Fifth and Sixth corps. 

Says De Trobiand " The assailants were stopped at first, 
by a fierce fire, caught in the woods ; the wind carried the 
smoke and flames against the end of our line, which was 
soon enveloped. The enemy took advantage of the accident 
to charge home at that point. Then they literally fought in 
the midst of the fire, the flames licking the legs of the 
combatants. 

"The Confederates were successful in forcing theintrench- 
ments when the prompt arrival of a brigade commanded by 
General Carroll repulsed them w^ith so much vigor that the 
attack was abandoned, after having cost the assailants heavy 
losses, as evidenced by the number of dead and wounded left 
on the ground." 

The battle ended as it had begun on the right. General 
Humphreys in his Virginia campaign says, "Gordon's brigade 
was formed in some open ground near the edge of the woods, 
and Johnson's in rear of it. The advance was then made a 
short time before sunset. Shaler's brigade was partly 
engaged building breastworks when the attack came, and was 
struck in flank,- and rolled up and thrown into confusion and 
several hundred prisoners captured from it, including General 
Shaler. Seymour's brigade was also disordered, and toward 
the end of the attack he was captured, though not many 
prisoners were from his brigade." 

Gordon's troops soon became disordered, and, darkness 
coming on, he made no further attempt to advance. General 
Wright now reformed his lines, and during the night General 
Sedgwick formed an entire new line of the Sixth corps, and 
the Fifth corps changed its line and conformed to it. 

Our battery, while the battle of the 6th was in progress, 
had remained on the ground near the headquarters of 
Lieutenant-General Grant. 

Soon after sunset, by order of Colonel Tompkins, the right 
section was sent under Lieutenant Parker, accompanied also 
by Captain Rhodes, to the right, to assist in checking the 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 287 

Stampede of a portion of the Sixth corps. General Sedgwick 
in person urged forward the section to its position on the 
plank road down which the fleeing troops of Shaler and Sey- 
mour were fleeing. Here Lieutenant Parker, with his sec- 
tion, awaited the pursuing enemy, but they did not come 
within its range, and its powder was saved for use a few days 
later. Captain Rhodes, after the section was placed in posi- 
tion, returned to the sections left near the headquarters. 
Soon after his return he received orders to move the left and 
centre sections to a position about one-half a mile farther to 
the left, being joined by the right section about ten p. m. 

An incident occurred during the battle worthy to be men- 
tioned. William H. Phinney, a member of our battery, who 
a short time before had been detached for service in the am- 
bulance corps, after being nearly exhausted from a hard day's 
labor as stretcher bearer, went a short distance into the 
woods to find a quiet place to sleep. Upon finding one, he 
spread his blanket and soon fell asleep, and, being very tired, 
he slept soundly until morning. When he awoke he discov- 
ered that a comrade was apparently sleeping at his side. Be- 
lieving it time that his companion should be awake, he gent!y 
touched him with his hand, when he discovered that his com- 
rade was dead. This so startled him that he raised himself 
up, and, on looking to his right and left, he was still more 
startled to discover that he had been sleeping in a line of 
thirty dead heroes. They had been taken there during the 
night by the stretcher-bearers, who doubtless thought that 
Phinney was also dead. 

At three a. m. on the 7th, the battery was aroused from its 
few hours of rest. The horses were unharnessed and 
groomed, after which the men ate their rations of hard tack. 
Soon after Captain Rhodes received orders to move his bat- 
tery to the front, at the right of the plank road, and park it 
in rear of Captain McKnight's regular battery, and be ready 
to relieve him should it be necessary. Shortly after, by order 
of Colonel Tompkins, the battery was relieved and placed in 
another position more to the front, except the centre section 
which, under Lieutenant Allen, was ordered into position on 
the high ground to the left of the plank road. Trees and 
shrubbery had to be cut down to enable the guns to reach the 
position they had been ordered to take. "Just as I had got 



288 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Maj, 

everything fixed right," says Captain Rhodes, "I was ordered 
to reheve Captain Harn, Third New York Battery on my left, 
near General Sedgwick's headquarters." 

The battery remained in these positions until after dark, 
when it was ordered back to near the parking ground it occu- 
pied the day before. 

On the morning of the 7th, reconnoissances were made of 
the enemy's lines which were found to be well fortified, and 
artillery was placed at the open ground and in other positions 
also. General Grant did not think it wise to continue the at- 
tack upon these works so unapproachable by the network 
which covered them. After a consultation with Meade, it 
was decided to withdraw the army after dark and continue its 
movement by the left flank, and force a battle upon more 
open ground. 

Official authority gives the total losses in this battle as be- 
ing 2,246 killed, 12,037 wounded, and 3,383 missing, a total 
of 17,666. Capt. Frederick Phisterer, in his statistical 
record, gives the Confederate loss as about 11,400. Among 
our kilted were Generals Wadsworth and Alexander Hays, 
the latter commanding the old brigade of De Trobriand, who 
was now a brigadier-general commanding the troops in and 
around New York City. Our wounded were Generals Han- 
cock, Getty, Gregg, Owens, Bartlett, Webb and Carroll. 
Among the rebel killed were Major-Gen. Sam Jones and Gen. 
Albert G. Jenkins. 

Their wounded included Generals Longstreet (disabled for 
months), Stafford (mortally), Pegram, George E. Pickett, and 
Hunter. No losses occurred in Battery E, and only a few 
straggling shots entered her domain. 

The artillery in this battle was comparatively a silent part- 
ner ; to this it was doubtless due that the Union army had 
no better success. The inability to use the artillery more 
was, of itself, a great loss, but its inaction seriously affected 
the infantry, who are always perceptibly inspired by its as- 
sistance. 



'864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 289 



CHAPTER XXI. 

May, 1864. 
Battle of Spottsylvania. 

AT three p. m. the trains were set in motion so as to 
make room for the troops. Between eight and nine in 
the evening the troops began to move, General Warren 
going towards Spottsylvania Court House. At nine p. m. he 
was followed by the Sixth corps, which took the road leading 
to Chancellorsville. Our battery moved at nine p. m., one 
section in the advance with Russell's division, marching all 
night over dusty roads, making many halts by the way, and 
reaching the old batttlefield of Chancellorsville at five a. m. 
the next morning. 

The night being hot and sultry, and having been without 
rest for several nights, we were somewhat weary. We 
continued our march to within a few miles of Spottsylvania 
Court House, where General Warren had already encountered 
Longstreet's corps, which was now in command of Gen. R. 
H. Anderson. A sharp encounter ensued between the Fifth 
corps and the enemy, in which Gen. John C. Robinson was 
severely wounded, the rebels being driven back upon the 
heights where they had just taken position. 

Later in the day the Fifth corps renewed the attack, being 
supported by the Sixth corps, in which some severe fighting 
was done, but it was too late in the day to be advantageously 
pursued, and both armies remained silent during the night. 
Our battery was not engaged, and remained during the night 
where we had encamped after coming up to the front. An in- 
cident happened during the clay which was more amusing to 
the comrades of the writer than it was to himself. We had 
just been brought to a halt by the enemy in our front, when 
Captain Rhodes gave an order to unhitch and water our 

19 



290 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

horses at a mill pond near by. We had nearly completed the 
order when the writer, after seeing that his teams were 
watered rode his horse into the pond to let him drink. He 
had ridden further in than the rest, and in turning to go out, 
his horse backed into a hole of quicksand and sank nearly 
under water, throwing his rider into the pond. Both, how- 
ever, succeeded, after a struggle, in reaching the shore. The 
writer had, upon the pommel of his saddle, a four-dollar cap, 
which had just been purchased, which was washed away and 
lost. But few generals ever received more hurrahs than did 
the writer in this battle with the waves. As the day was very 
hot the baptism was not so disagreeable as the hilarity of the 
thousands of troops who saw the amusing, but dangerous, ac- 
cident. 

Another amusing affair occurred the night before. Just as 
the army was leaving the battlefield, the bands struck up the 
familiar air, " Ain't vou glad to get out of the Wilderness .•* " 
which caused prolonged cheers from the troops. 

There were no active operations on the 9th. Our hnes 
were strengthened, intrenchments thrown up, and the artil- 
lery was put in position. The skirmishers and sharpshooters 
were very active on both sides. Battery E was situated in a 
large open field in which there were many stumps and more 
or less shrubber}^ covering the field. The rebel lines ran 
along the south front of this field and were confronted by 
Sedgwick's corps. It was in placing these troops that Gen. 
John Sedgwick, the idolized commander of the Sixth corps, 
lost his life. The general, accompanied by some of his offi- 
cers, was giving instructions about the positions of his troops, 
when he was shot in the cheek, just below the eye, fell into 
the arms of General McMahon, and without speaking, expired 
immediately. He had just been warned not to approach that 
position, and in a pleasant way replied that " they could not 
hit an elephant at that distance." 

General Wright now assumed command of the corps, Gen- 
eral Russell that of the First division. General Eustis was 
assigned to Russell's brigade, and Colonel Edwards took com- 
mand of Eustis's brigade. 

Our lines extended from the southeast to the northwest, 
with Hancock on the right, and to his left was Warren's Fifth 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 29 1 

corps. Burnside's was on the extreme left, and between him 
and Warren was the Sixth corps. 

Beyond a strip of woods in our front lay the rebel lines, 
behind well-constructed breastworks. To our rear, upon 
higher ground, our artillery was posted so as to fire over our 
lines. About sunset. Captain Rhodes moved his battery 
further to the left and the enemy being comparatively quiet, 
our horses were unhitched and allowed to have a much needed 
rest. 

At three a. m. on the loth, we harnessed up, and at day- 
light moved further toward the left, going into battery in 
some open woods. As there was no underbrush and the 
trees being far apart and the limbs high, our protection was 
no better than an open field. In our front the woods were 
quite dense, beyond which was our wily foe. 

Hancock the day before had crossed the Po River with the 
intention of turning the enemy's left, but during the fore- 
noon of the loth, he was ordered by General Meade to return 
and assist Warren in an attack that had been arranged to 
commence at five p. m. General Wright had been corre- 
spondingly instructed, and Warren notified that Hancock, by 
virtue of seniority, would command both corps. 

Skirmishing had been almost constant during the forenoon 
along the whole line. Our battery commenced firing about 
ten A. M., and continued at intervals while waiting the in- 
tended assaults which were hourly expected. One hour be- 
fore the time appointed, our troops commenced moving for- 
ward to attack the waiting enemy, and it was not long before 
the hills and valleys were reverberating with a continuous 
roar of artillery and musketry. Our artillery had ample room 
in which to display its terrible work, as though it desired to 
repay its want of service at the Wilderness. 

Dr. Stevens, in his three years' history of the Sixth corps, 
says : "It was the terrible cannonading of Malvern Hill, with 
the fierce musketry of Gaines' Mills combined, that seemed 
fairly to shake the earth and skies." 

Thus far only the Second and Fifth corps had been engaged. 
It remained for the Sixth corps to finish the terrible fighting, 
which at first promised us a splendid victory, but for want of 
timely support and the approaching darkness, resulted only 
in a great loss of life without commensurate advantage. It 



292 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

was between five and six p. m., that the Sixth corps was 
ordered to be divested of every incumbrance and prepare for 
a charge. Colonel Upton, who commanded the second 
brigade of the first division, was ordered to select twelve 
regiments from the corps and march them to an open space 
which was covered by a narrow strip of woods in front of the 
enemy's lines. After advancing into these woods, three 
lines were formed of four regiments each. 

These regiments were supported by other troops in their 
corps, and Warren and Hancock held their corps in readiness 
to rush in, should the charging column be successful. 

Again let us quote Dr. Stevens : "At six o'clock all things 
were ready, and the artillery from our eminences in our rear 
opened a terrific fire, sending the shell howling and shrieking 
over the heads of the charging column and plunging into the 
works of the enemy. This was the signal for attack, and 
Colonel Upton's clear voice rang out, ' Attention, battalions ! 
Forward, double-quick! Charge!' and in an instant every 
man was on his feet, and with tremendous cheers, which were 
answered by the wild yells of the rebels, the column rushed 
from the cover of the woods. Quick as a flash of lightning, 
a sheet of flame burst from the rebel line, and the leaden hail 
swept the ground over which the column was adv^ancing, 
while the canister from the artillery came crashing through 
our ranks at every step, and scores and hundreds of our brave 
fellows fell, literally covering the ground. But nothing 
daunted, the noble fellows rushed upon the defences, leaping 
over the ditch in front and mounting the breastworks. The 
rebels made a determined resistance, and a hand to hand 
fight ensued, until, with their bayonets, our men had filled the 
rifle-pits with bleeding rebels. About two thousand of the 
survivors of the struggling surrendered, and were immedi- 
ately marched to the rear under guard. 

"Without halting for breath the impetuous column rushed 
towards the second line of works, which was equally as strong 
as the first. The resistance here was less stubborn than at 
the first line, yet the grey occupants of the rifle-pits refused 
to fly, until forced back at the point of the bayonet. Our 
ranks were now fearfully thinned, yet the brave fellows passed 
on to the third line of defences which was also captured. It 
was but a shattered remnant of that noble column that rushed 



1S64. FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 293 

from the woods against the hostile works, that reached the 
advanced point, and now, finding that re- enforcements were 
reaching the enemy while our column was every moment 
melting away, a retreat was ordered." The retreat, says 
Humphreys, was not undertaken until darkness made it safe. 
Colonel Upton states that his loss was about 1,000 in killed, 
wounded and missing, and that he took between 1,000 and 
1,250 prisoners and several stands of colors. 

For this daring charge, Colonel Upton was immediately 
promoted to brigadier-general, so also was Colonel Carroll of 
the Second corps. 

The Third division of our corps was with our battery near 
the left centre of the Union lines. The fighting was to our 
right. The. early firing of our guns was doubtless to prevent 
the enemy in our front from re-enforcing the right. Our 
battery was by turns supported by the one hundred and tenth 
Ohio and the Second Rhode Island regiment. 

Battery E had continued to fire at short intervals, some- 
times by battery, until the twelve picked regiments were 
about to commence the fearful assaults when, says Colonel 
Tompkins in his report, "Cowan's, McCartney's, and 
Rhodes's batteries fired with all rapidity for nine minutes." 

We expended 286 shot, 68 shell and 176 spherical case. 
This is corroborated by the report of Captain Rhodes, in 
vol.36, part 1st, page 770, of the Official Rebellion Records, 
which reads : " VVe fired 530 rounds of ammunition," Our loss, 
owing to the distance of the enemy and the slight breast- 
works in our front was but one man (Benjamin Judd), slightly 
wounded, and one horse killed. After the firing had ceased, 
General Ricketts sent an aide and complimented Captain 
Rhodes for the able manner in which his battery had been 
served during this day's battle. About ten p. m., Captain 
Rhodes was ordered to take his battery back to the caissons, 
which had remained at our camping ground the night before. 

The Union loss on the loth of May was about 4,100 ; that 
of the Confederates about one-half as many. General Rice, 
of the Fifth corps was mortally wounded, and General 
Stevenson of the Ninth corps killed. 

May nth. This was a day of constant moving for 
Battery P2. After reveille we were relieved by McKnight's 
battery, then moved back nearly two miles and occupied a 



294 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

position near to where we were when General Sedgwick was 
killed on the 9th. Here we unharnessed, groomed and 
grazed our horses, and refilled our ammunition chests. 
About two p. M. we were relieved by another battery and 
moved under the guide of Major Tompkins in the direction of 
Alsops, but getting lost in the woods, we had to return some 
distance and went into park near the Second corps hospital. 
While here we unhitched and watered our horses. In 
doing so we had to pass the field hospitals where the 
surgeons were amputating the shattered limbs and probing 
the cruel wounds of the suffering and dying heroes of the 
battlefield. It was a sight not desirable to witness. 

The agonizing groans of the suffering, and the bleached 
faces of the dead and dying, were enough to sicken even old 
veterans of the war, and some of our men were so affected 
by the sight that they nearly fell from their horses from faint- 
ness. 

We remained near the hospital until night, and then re- 
turned to near where we started in the morning. Until 
nearly night the day, as it had been the day before, was hot 
and dusty, but towards evening heavy showers cooled the air, 
thereby relieving somewhat the sufferings of the wounded. 
In the meantime, the Union forces were being prepared for 
another movement on the morrow. Hancock's corps was to 
move from the right, passing by the rear of the Fifth and 
Sixth corps, and was to mass between the latter and I^urn- 
side's corps. Warren at the same time was to extend his 
troops so as to occupy his own and the ground left by Han- 
cock. 

Two divisions of Wright's corps were held to support Han- 
cock and Burnside, while the Third division of that corps was 
to hold the intrenchments when vacated by the First and 
Second divisions. After dark, the above movement was exe- 
cuted, and the hour of four a. m. of the 12th was set for the 
attack to commence, but owing to the dense fog, the ad- 
vance did not move until lialf an hour later. Before being 
aware of our presence, our troops had ahnost reached the 
enemy's line ; then with wild cheers they rushed through the 
obstructions which were in front of the rebel works, and 
without halting before the sharp fire of the foe, scaled the 
breastworks, capturing, says General Hancock, "nearly 4,000 



iS64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 295 

prisoners of Ewell's corps, twenty pieces of artillery, with 
their caissons, horses, etc., several thousand stands of small 
arms, and upward of thirty colors. Maj.-Gen. Edward John- 
son and Brig.-Gen. George H. Stewart were among the pris- 
soners. Our troops, after the capture of the intrenchraents, 
pursued the enemy through the forest, in the direction of 
Spotlsylvania Court-House, until they encountered a second 
formidable line of earthworks." 

Before the second line our forces were compelled to halt, 
and were soon driven back by the accumulating forces of the 
enemy. The fight now centred along the angle which was 
continued for many hours with a persistence never before ex- 
perienced since the war commenced. "The fight had," says 
the French brigadier, " become general along the whole line, 
but in spite of the attacks of Warren on one side and Burn- 
side on the other, Lee, protected by his intrenchments, was 
able to continue to strip one part of his front, to mass the re- 
enforcements on the principal points, and to re-establish his 
lost position at all hazards. Meade understood this, and on 
his side hastened to strongly sustain the Second corps. 
Wright arrived first to Hancock's aid, followed by two of 
W^arren's divisions. 

The battle continued during the whole day, on the one 
side to retake, and on the other to hold this corner of the 
works contested with unparalleled desperation. Five times 
the Confederates returned to the charge. One assault re- 
pulsed, they rallied at a short distance, reformed with new 
troops, and again rushed on the double intrenchments, where 
our men received the shock with an unshaken firmness." 

Russell's division of the Sixth corps, says Stevens, " held 
the centre of the line of the corps at a point known as ' the 
angle.' Whoever could hold the angle would be the victors, 
for with the angle, either party could possess themselves of 
the whole line of works. Hence, the desperate efforts to 
drive us from this position. The First division being unable 
to maintain the position alone, the Second division was sent 
to its aid. And now, as the boys of the Second division took 
their places in the front, the battle became a hand-to-hand 
combat. A breastwork of logs separated the combatants. 
Our men would reach over this partition and discharge their 
muskets in the face of the enemy, and, in return, would re- 



296 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

ceive the fire of the rebels at the same close range. Finally, 
the men began to use their muskets as clubs, and then rails 
were used. The men were willing thus to fight from behind 
the breastworks, but to rise up and attempt a charge in the 
face of an enemy so near at hand and so strong in numbers 
required unusual bravery. Yet they did charge, and they 
drove the rebels back and held the angle themselves." 

Thus the battle went on, if possible, with increased fury 
until nearly eleven p. m. The second line was finally cap- 
tured, and the rebels retired behind other lines. 

In this battle of the 12th, Battery E bore an honorable 
part. It was a day long to be remembered as one of the most 
memorable in our history. It rained hard during the entire 
day and mud was everywhere. We were aroused at three 
A. M., and waited events in the drenching rain until about 
nine a, m. We then moved towards the left over rough 
roads, passing, in doing so, an open space within range of the 
rebel artillery, which opened upon us a rapid and vigorous 
fire of iron hail through which we had to pass. It was a dan- 
gerous passage but somewhat amusing, as the field between 
us and the rebels was dotted with rebel huts, in which the 
irrepressible skedaddlers had taken refuge. Through these 
huts the rebel shots were hurled, regardless of its occupants, 
whose exit, accompanied by the flying boards of which they 
were built, although dangerous, was, altogether, an exciting- 
scene. Some of them were doubtless wounded, but we had 
more important duties awaiting us, and we left them to care 
for themselves. 

After reaching our destination we remained a short time, 
then we were ordered back some distance to relieve Captain 
McKnight's battery which was in position on the left of our 
corps. Here our battery fired 6^ shot, 10 shell, and 39 
spherical case, having one horse killed. During this action 
it rained in torrents, and it was with difficulty that we kept 
our ammunition dry. About five p. m. we ceased firing and 
again moved towards the left, encamped at a late hour, and 
attempted to get a few hours of rest. This was the eighth 
day that our army, or some portions of it, had been fighting, 
and nearly every night these troops were on the move pre- 
paring for the next day's fighting. It was what the Army of 
the Potomac had not before been used to, and we saw no 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 29/ 

immediate relief from its continuance. Only the day before, 
Grant had sent his dispatch ending with the memorable 
words, "I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all 
summer." Our loss in this day's battle was about 6,000 
killed and wounded, and about 800 were taken prisoners 

General Humphreys estimates the Confederates loss 
between 9,000 and 10,000. Among our wounded were our 
Corps commander and Generals Webb and Carroll. Beside 
the two rebel generals captured Generals Daniel and Perrin 
were killed and Generals Walker, Ramseur, R. H. Johnston, 
and McGowan were severely wounded. 

Our attempt to get rest on the night of the 12th, proved 
a failure, for at i a. m. on the morning of the 13th, we were 
ordered further to the front into the breastworks, remaining 
there during the day. In the meanwhile another flank 
movement was planned. Warren was ordered to cross the 
Ny river after dark and move south on a line parallel with the 
river, then "recross the Ny, form on the left of the Ninth 
corps, and attack on the Fredericksburg road at four a. m. on 
the 14th." The Sixth corps followed the Fifth, starting at 
three a. m. on the 14th, and, after some fighting, assisted by 
Warren, he formed on Warren's left. 

During the movement of the two corps, the rain was 
almost constant, the roads and fields over which it had to 
march being almost impassable on account of the mud. 

The darkness says Humphreys, "was intense, so that 
literally you could not see your hand held before your face." 
The fatiguing march through the mud and darkness, made 
the movement slow, many hundreds losing their way, and 
becoming exhausted, lay down and waited for daylight to 
reveal the way. At the hour appointed for the attack it was 
found that the troops being so badly scattered, the attack 
was postponed. In this new position, Hancock held the 
right whose left was joined by Burnside's right; then came 
Warren's corps extending to Wright's which held the left. 
The general course of the Union army lay north and south 
except Hancock's corps which curved to the right. Behind 
Meade's army was the Ny river whose general course was to 
the southeast. 

It was unfortunate that our army was not in condition to 
attack on the morning of the 14th, as General Lee was not 



298 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [ May 

aware that the right of our army had been moved to the left, 
until the afternoon of the 14th. During the 15th i6th and 
17th says Humphreys "the Fifth and Sixth corps advanced 
their intrenched Hnes, established batteries, opened roads, 
examined the country and roads leading southward, and on 
the 17th the Fifth corps prepared an intrenchment to be 
held in connection with an operation to be undertaken on the 
morning of the i8th." A few thousands of re-enforcements 
had arrived during the last few days, but these were offset by 
the regiments whose terms had expired. It was owing to 
these retiring regiments and the heavy losses in Mott's 
division that caused its consolidation with that of Birney's 
on the 13th. This, as before stated, gave to Birney the 
command of all the old Third corps troops. 

Battery E had remained in breastworks during the whole 
of the 13th. At nine p. ]si. we were ordered further to the left, 
marching over rough and muddy roads in the rain. We 
moved but a few miles and halted on the road until morning. 
Several times during the night owing to the deep holes and 
mud in the road our horses had to be removed and the pieces 
drawn out by the cannoneers. 

At daylight on the 14th we started and reached the 
vicinity of the Ny river about noon, where we remained until 
evening, moving then one mile further towards the left and 
went into position beyond some large fields known as 
Anderson's Farm. Several other batteries were on this farm. 
Among them being batteries C and G, of Rhode Island, 
Kimball's Fourth Maine and Harn's Third New York. 
Here we found our corps with the exception of Upton's 
brigade, which had crossed the river to occupy the high 
land at Gayles, where it was attacked by the rebel cavalry 
and Mahone's infantry, and driven back. Warren sent 
Ayres's brigade to his support, who drove away the enemy. 
The balance of the Sixth corps crossed the river and relieved 
Ayres. 

Sunday, May 15th. W^e awoke quite refreshed having for 
the first time since crossing the Rapidan, had a good night's 
sleep. We remained here until about night, when we were 
relieved by Captain McCartney's First Massachusetts Battery 
returned to the Anderson Farm. Whiskey was issued to 
such portions of the men as desired it. This doubtful 
practice was seldom resorted to. 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 299 

May i6th. Remained in camp until night, then relieved a 
battery at the front, but returned in the morning. During 
the day our men passed the time in writing to friends at 
home, many of whom had not done so since leaving Brandy 
Station. On the morning of the 17th an order arrived to turn 
in two of our guns but retain the caissons and horses. This 
order applied to all six-gun batteries in the army. Two days 
later the reserve artillery was broken up and its ninety- 
two guns were sent to Washington, but the caissons were 
retained to carry the reserve ammunition. 

Four more batteries reported to Colonel Tompkins for 
duty. They were the Fourth Maine, Capt. G. T. Stevens ; 
A, First New Jersey, Captain Hexamer; H, First Ohio, Cap- 
tam Dorsey ; and Battery M, Fifth United States, Lieutenant 
Brinckle commanding. This made twelve light batteries in 
the Sixth corps artillery brigade. They were formed into 
two divisions ; First division, composed of rifle guns, were 
commanded by Lieut. -Col. J. Albert Monroe, who reported 
for duty to-day ; the Second division, smooth-bores, com- 
manded by Maj. John A. Tompkins.* 

Our centre section was selected as the one to go, and Ser- 
geant Hargraves, who commanded the third piece, was de- 
tailed to deliver them to Belle Plain. About noon he started, 
reached his destination at noon the next day, and rejoined the 
battery about four p. m. on the 19th. The cannoneers who 
had lost their guns were divided among the other detach- 
ments. 

After the departure of our two guns, we remained quiet 
until about night when we hitched up, moved back on the 
same road towards the right, then marched about three miles 
and halted in the road until morning. This move was made 
in connection with an effort of the Second and Sixth corps 
to turn the enemy's left. These two corps had, on the night 
of the 17th, marched to the battle ground of the 12th, and on 
the morning of the i8th, attacked the Confederates, but after 
several efforts it was found unwise to continue the attacks 
longer. They had been assisted by the Ninth and Fifth 
corps, who made demonstrations upon the enemy in their 
front, and were likewise unsuccessful. The Sixth corps re- 
turned at once to its position occupied the day before Three 
divisions of the Second corps moved to the left of the Sixth 
corps near Anderson's Mill, on the east side of the Ny River, 

* Brother to Colonel Tompkins. 



300 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

and during the same night (i8tb) Burnside moved his corps to 
the left of the Sixth corps, resting his left near the Po River. 
The right of the enemy, at the same time, was resting on the 
Po River, near Snell's Bridge. Our battery vi^as not engaged 
in this attack, but had marched with the troops on the morn- 
ing of the 1 8th toward the right centre, and when the fight- 
ing was over, moved back with the corps and encamped near 
army headquarters on the Anderson Farm, where we remained 
during the night of the i8th. 

On the 19th, General Lee, believing that our army was 
moving to turn his right, sent Ewell's corps to meet the ex- 
pected attack. In doing so Ewell encountered Keating's 
brigade and Tyler's division of untried troops who were on our 
right, guarding the Fredericksburg road. These troops, al- 
though not before having been under fire, rendered a resist- 
ance which would have done credit to veterans of many bat- 
tles. To Tyler's support Warren sent a Maryland brigade, 
and afterwards sent a division. Hancock ordered up Birney's 
division, who advanced two brigades into action on Tyler's 
right. This continued until after dark, when Ewell retreated 
across the river, leaving behind him 400 of his troops as pris- 
oners, besides losing heavily. 

During the night of the 19th, General Russell's division of 
the Sixth corps was massed near the. scene of action, and 
early the next morning relieved Birney's and Tyler's divisions, 
which returned to their corps near Clark's Mill. 

Our battery crossed the Ny River at nine a. m. on the 19th, 
and went into park. Although our camping ground was not 
the best, yet, as we had been three nights without much rest, 
we derived a great benefit from its occupation. Our mail, the 
first since crossing the Rapidan, arrived on the 19th, and it 
added greatly to our happiness. Those who desired it had a 
change of clothes, which, with the much needed ablution of 
.water, greatly improved both our mental and physical condi- 
tion. We remained here during the day and night of the 
20th. 

Here virtually ended the desperate conflicts which began 
on the 8th, known as the battle of Spottsylvania. The losses 
in our army during these series of battles were 2,725 killed, 
13,416 wounded, and 2,258 missing, making a total of 18,399. 
That of the enemy was probably about half as many. 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY 



301 



CHAPTER XXII. 

May— June, 1864. 

Crossing the North Anna. — March to Hanover Town. 
Battle of Cold Harbor. 

ON the night of the 20th, Hancock was ordered to move 
his corps through Giiinney's Station and Bowling 
Green to Milford Station about twenty miles distant 
About noon of the 21st he had reached his destination with 
some opposition, and was intrenched on the south bank of the 
Mattapony River. It was the hope of General Grant that 
Geneml Lee would be deceived by this movement of the Sec- 
ond corps, and in consequence leave his intrenchments to meet 
what he supposed to be the Army of the Potomac. 

Hancock was to engage the enemy, and hold him until the 
other corps cauld reach the battlefield, when they were ex- 
pected to attack Lee before he could intrench himself. But 
the wily chief of the Confederate army was not so easily de- 
ceived, and the movement had to take the form of another 
flanking operation. On the night of the 21st, the other corps 
commenced to move to connect with Hancock. They with- 
drew in silence, to quote Dr. Stevens, "first throwing the 
right corps in rear of the rest of the army and to its left, as 
at the Wilderness, the troops marched rapidly all night, halt- 
ing for a few moments for breath once or twice, and then 
pressing forward again. During the next forenoon a halt of 
some hours occurred at Ouincy Station. Then the march 
was renewed and continued until dark. The Fifth and Sixth 
corps reached the banks of the North Anna on the evenino- 
of the 23d, and was soon followed by the Second and Ninth 
corps. 

Again the enemy, aware of our intentions, and having the 
shortest line, confronted us, and disputed the crossing ; but. 



302 HISTORY OF BATTERY K, [May, 

after considerable artillery practice, the Fifth corps succeeded 
in throwing across their pontoon bridges and obtaining a po- 
sition on the south bank. 

The enemy now attacked the corps with great vigor, but 
were repulsed with equal slaughter. The Sixth corps followed 
at four o'clock in the morning, and a little later the Second 
and Ninth corps also joined us. Strong breastworks were 
thrown up, and parties were sent to the front to reconnoiter 
the position." 

Captain Rhodes by order on the 21st, detailed Sergeant 
Hargraves and fifty cannoneers to relieve a force of infantry 
in throwing up breastworks which were facing to the rear. 
It was unusual to take artillerymen for this purpose, but 
knowing well the severe trials that our foot comrades had to 
bear, but little or no protest was offered to this undesired 
service. At about noon this detail was relieved. During 
the remainder of the day we were moved from place to place 
without apparent purpose. Just at night the Sixth corps 
pickets were attacked and quite a sharp encounter occurred 
between the rebel troops under General Wilcox and 
those of our corps. During the evening we moved in con- 
nection with our corps and were on the road all night, but 
owing to the many halts did not make much headway. 
About eight o'clock the next morning, we reached Guinney's 
Station and halted near McGuinney's House. 
• To this house General Jackson was carried after being 
wounded at Chancellorsville one year before, and here also 
he died on the loth of May, 1863. The house in which he 
died had now become historic, and a visit to it bymany of our 
men forcibly suggested the question, — would the Army of 
the Potomac have reached here had Jackson lived to have 
commanded one of Lee's corps .'' 

At 4 p. M. we continued our march about six miles and 
went into camp on Pleasant Hill, near Parker's store. Here 
we unharnessed, groomed our horses, and during the night 
enjoyed a refreshing sleep. 

May 23d. We again resumed our forward movement with 
our corps towards the North Anna River. About six p. m. 
Warren's corps, which before our arrival had crossed the 
North Anna at Jericho Mills, was attacked by Hill's corps, 
which, after a stout resistance, succeeded in breaking our 



^864.J FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 3O3 

right held by General Cutler, and were pursuing our troops 
when they were driven back by the artillery. Griffin in the 
centre, had in the meantime, strongly attacked in his front 
and repulsed the enemy who retreated to his line on the 
Virginia Central Railroad. At the commencement of the 
fight, the head of the Sixth corps was at Mount Carmel Church, 
about three miles from where Warren had crossed, and the 
corps was hurried forward to his support, but after arriving 
at the river, it was thought not to be necessary to cross the 
river that night. 

Our battery had reached to within one mile of the river, 
and about 9 p. m., on the 23d, went into park. Although the 
men were weary from the constant marching they were, 
nevertheless, enabled to do a successful business at forag-ins: 
as the good supply of pigs, chickens, and turkeys testified. 

Although we needed the few hours given us at night for 
rest, we did not fail to find time to cook our harvest of fowl 
and swine. About noon on the 23d, Hancock arrived to 
within about one mile of the crossing of the Fredericksburg 
Railroad over the North Anna River, and formed a line with 
his left across the railroad, the right being held by Birney, 
the centre by Barlow, and the left by Gibbon. The enemy 
at this time still had a force on the north side of the river 
upon which General Hancock directed Birney's division to 
make an attack. This proved successful,' leaving in his 
hands a quantity of prisoners. The enemy after crossing, 
attempted to burn the bridge but only partially succeeded. 
Burnside having arrived, was placed in position on Hancock's 
right near Oxford which was then held by the enemy, who 
were protected by a strong line of works on the south side of 
the river. 

During the night of the 2^d, the enemy retreated from his 
front lines in front of Hancock. Early on the morning of 
the 24th Hancock moved across the river and occupied their 
abandoned works. 

Burnside had also been ordered to cross on the 24th at 
Oxford, but the strength of the enemy's line not warranting 
the effort, only one division crossed above at Ouarle's Mill 
and was there joined by General Crawford's division of the 
Fifth corps. These two divisions advanced down the south 



304 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

bank of the river and attacked the enemy, but they failed to 
drive them from their works. 

Ths Sixth corps had crossed the river before the others, 
except the Fifth, and had taken position on the right, remain- 
ing there until near night when a portion of the corps was 
thrown forward to the Virginia Central Railroad. At day- 
light, on the 24th, our battery marched to the river, groomed 
and grazed the horses, and remained on the north side until 
sunset, when we crossed on canvas pontoons and encamped 
about one mile south of the crossing. General Warren, on 
the morning of the 25th, with the Fifth and Sixth corps, and 
one division of the Ninth, made an advance by a half wheel 
to the right and moved to within a half mile of the enemy's 
intrenchments which were found to extend from Oxford on 
the North Anna to Anderson's Mill on Little River, a distance 
of three miles. The works were found to be so formidable 
that our commanding chiefs decided not to make any further 
advance upon them, but to continue the movement by another 
flanking operation. Our battery on the 25th made no move- 
ment with the corps, but unharnessed at dark and remained 
near the river until about one a. m. the next morning, when 
we hitched up and returned to Jericho Mills, recrossed the 
river before light and halted for an hour or so. We then 
marched in the rain southeast to Chesterfield Station on the 
Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad, and remained until 
night. Our horses were unharnessed, groomed and rested, 
preparatory for the long and rapid march which was to 
follow. 

During the 25th and 26th our troops were ordered to de- 
stroy portions of the Central and Fredericksburg Railroad, 
and on the latter date, Wilson, with his division of cavalry, 
was sent across the North Ann* to assist in destroying the 
Central Railroad. It was also intended that its movement 
should impress General Lee with the idea that our army con- 
templated a movement around his left flank. It will be 
noticed that Sheridan's cavalry corps had taken no part in 
the battles since that of the VVilderness. On the 8th of May 
Sheridan was ordered by Grant to move the next day upon 
his famous raid around the Confederate Army, in which he 
four times defeated the enemy's cavalry and recaptured 400 
prisoners taken at the Wilderness. He burnt the rebel 



JS^H] first R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 305 

trains and locomotives, destroyed a large amount of army sup- 
plies, consigned to the flames a million and a half of rations, 
and destroyed many miles of railroad. 

During all these operations he was constantly harrasscd by 
the enemy's cavalry. At Yellow Tavern General Stuart, 
who commanded the rebel cavalry, attacked him with his 
whole force, but after a severe battle was defeated. General 
Stuart was mortally wounded and Gen. J. B. Gordon was 
killed. After this battle Sheridan moved straight on the 
works around Richmond, upon which Custer charged with 
his brigade and captured the first lines, secured a few prison- 
ers and a section of artillery. Being unable to carry the sec- 
ond line he retired across the Chickahominy, and, after a rest 
at Haxall's Landing, where he received supplies from General 
Butler, he started for the Army of the Potomac, which he 
joined near the North Anna River on the 24th of May. Be- 
sides the great amount of damage he had done to the rebel 
army in this raid he had kept a large part of their cavalry 
from constantly annoying our flanks. 

During the night of the 26th the army, under cover of the 
darkness, was withdrawn to the north bank of the North 
Anna with the intention of crossing the Pamunkey River 
near Hanover Town, about thirty-three miles from the posi- 
tion then occupied by the army. 

During the evening of the 26th, Russell's First division of 
the Sixth corps and two divisions of Sheridan's cavalry were 
massed at Chesterfield Station on the Fredericksburg Rail- 
road. With these troops our battery and Dorsey's First 
Ohio were to make a rapid march to Hanover Town on the 
Pamunky River, in order to hold the position until the arrival 
of other troops which were to follow. 

After firing the buildings at the station we started at niiie 
o'clock and marched all night, sometimes mounting the can- 
noneers and moving at a trot. A few short halts were made, 
when our men would throw themselves upon the ground to 
get a few moments of rest. At about six a. m, the next 
morning we halted and fed our horses, supplied ourselves 
with hard bread and cofTee and then resumed our hurried 
march, reaching Hanover Town at noon on the 27th, having 
marched over thirty-three miles since nine o'clock the night 
20 



306 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

before. Immediately after our arrival we crossed the river 
on pontoons and went into park about a mile beyond the 
river. Here we unharnessed, fed our horses, and remained 
until the next day. Although the men were extremely tired 
they could not resist the favorable opportunity to forage a sup- 
ply of eatables, among which was some fresh pork, which was 
seen traveling about on four legs. 

During the forenoon of the 28th Lieutenant Allen was sent 
out for forage, and returned with a wagon-load. On the after- 
noon of the 28th, the remaining portion of the Sixth corps 
arrived, having crossed at Huntley's, four miles above Han- 
over Town. The Second corps followed the Sixth, both tak- 
ing position about one mile from the crossing. The Fifth 
and Ninth corps crossed at Hanover Town, taking position 
on the left of the Sixth corps, but leaving a gap of one mile 
between them. 

The enemy having the shorter route was again between our 
army and the rebel capital, his right on Beaver Dam Creek, 
his left on Totopotomoy Creek. This position completely 
covered the many approaches to Richmond over which our 
army must pass to enter the city from the north and east. 
About two p. M., on the 28th, Captain Rhodes moved his bat- 
tery about two miles in advance and halted at some cross- 
roads. Here we remained through the next day and night. 
An unusual amount of time on the 29th was passed in 
grooming and grazing our horses, for what reason we could 
not divine. In the meanwhile the corps were directed to 
make reconnoissances in their front, our corps in the direc- 
tion of Hanover Court-House and Hancock's and Warren's 
on the roads leading more direct to Richmond. Our cavalry 
were on our flanks. Wright met no enem}^ save a few cav- 
alry. 

Hancock found the enemy in force at the crossing of the 
Totopotomoy with the Richmond road. 

On the 30th, our infantry advanced close to the enemy's 
position except the Sixth corps which was ordered to move 
at daylight to the extreme right, form on Hancock's right and 
to attack the enemy's left flank, but before reaching Han- 
cock's right it became so badly entangled in the swamps that 
it arrived too late to be of service. Hancock during Wright's 
delay, had opened his artillery and silenced the enemy's 



1864. FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERV. 307 

batteries, capturing some of their pickets. Further to the 
left, B'urnside and Warren had skirmished all day. Warren 
toward night was attacked by Rode's division of Early's 
corps and drove Crawford back quite a distance, but re-en- 
forcements arriving, Warren, after a sharp encounter, forced 
the enemy to retire, with a loss of three colonels. 

Our battery moved with the corps and marched in a north- 
west course until we struck the Central Railroad about nine 
A. M. at Beaver Station. It was said at the time that we were 
on the wrong road. However that may have been, we 
remained until afternoon. During our stay we went between 
the picket lines and foraged corn for our horses, as they badly 
needed it, we having left camp in the morning without feed- 
ing them. 

It was here that some of the men in the battery came near 
being shot by the enemy's sharpshooters. A house stood 
half way between our lines where we went to obtain some- 
thing more desirable to eat than hard tack. Plenty of bacon, 
corn meal and other articles were found, to which we helped 
ourselves, notwithstanding the earnest pleadings and tears of 
the ladies who occupied the dwelling. 

Whether the rebels wanted to save the bacon for them- 
selves or were moved at our unmanly intrusion we cannot 
say, but they opened a sharp fire upon the intruders, who 
without waiting to thank the unwilling donors, hastily 
retreated from the grounds. About three p. m. in company 
with Captain Harn's and McKnight's batteries, we returned 
back on the same road over which we came, about two miles, 
when Captain Harn's battery was ordered into action a short 
distance to our left. McKnight's battery and our own 
marched to near a place called Hickoryville, on Dr. Shelton's 
plantation, where we remained during that night and the day 
following. 

During the 31st, oiir infantry corps lay in front of the 
enemy and kept up a constant skirmish firing, but no action 
of any account occurred. While this skirmishing was in 
progress, Sheridan finding Fitzhugh Lee's division of rebel 
cavalry at Cold Harbor attacked him during the afternoon, 
drove him back and held the position until night, when an 
infantry brigade from Hoke's division came to Lee's support. 
Sheridan fearing he could not hold the ground against the re- 



308 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Maj, 

enforced opposition, contemplated a withdrawal but Meade 
ordered him, as it was an important point to us, to hold the 
position at all hazards. Previous to Meade giving this order 
to Sheridan, he had decided not to attack the enemy behind 
their strong works, but instead had concluded to send two 
corps to Sheridan's aid and hold that important centre. To 
this end. General Wright was ordered to move his corps 
during the night of the 31st and make every effort to reach 
Cold Harbor early in the morning, but the distance over 
undefined and narrow roads made it impossible, and he did not 
reach the vicinity until near noon of June the ist. 

We hitched up at midnight and started at three A. m. with 
the corps by way of Salem Church and old Church Tavern, 
reaching the vicinity of Cold Harbor about eleven a. m. 
General W. F. Smith arrived a few hours after with one 
division of the Eighteenth corps and two divisions of the tenth 
corps making a force of about 13,000, but over 2,000 of these 
were left at the White House Landing, where they had 
arrived the day before. 

These troops had been sent from General Butler who was 
then in command of the army of the James. With us they 
were known as the Eighteenth corps. During the forenoon 
Sheridan had been attacked by two brigades of Kershaw's, but 
they were repulsed by the fire of repeating carbines and 
his artillery. These attacks were repeated, and the enemy 
again was repulsed. As soon as the Sixth corps had all arrived, 
the cavalry was relieved and ordered towards the Chicka- 
hominy to protect our left flank. Our arrival had been 
observed by the enemy who at once proceeded to form their 
Imes accordingly. Ewell's corps was on their left, and was 
still confronted by Hancock and Burnside. Longstreet's 
corps, now commanded by R. H. Anderson, joined Ewell's 
right and extended to our left beyond Cold Harbor, confront- 
ing our corps and that of the Eighteenth. 

By two o'clock, the Sixth corps was all up, covering all the 
important roads running through that locality. The Eigh- 
teenth corps was on our right, with its left joining the right 
of the Sixth corps near Cold Harbor. Rickctt's Third division 
held the right of our corps, Russell's First division held the 
centre, and Neill's Second division held the extreme left of the 
whole line. 



JS64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 3O9 

In front of our line there was an open space fully one-half 
a mile in width, and, beyond this, in a strip of woods, were 
the rebel intrenchments occupied by a strong force. About 
five p. M. our skirmishers began to advance, and soon the fa- 
miliar rattle of musketry made it known that our veteran foe 
had accepted the challenge. At this time the artillery of the 
Sixth corps was hurried into position. Our battery advanced 
rapidly and went into battery upon a slightly elevated and 
open field, a few hundred feet directly to the rear of the old 
Cold Harbor Tavern (Jones's), about fourteen hundred yards 
from the enemy, and immediately commenced a vigorous fire 
upon the enemy's lines. Our infantry now formed in line of 
battle. " The First and Third divisions of the Sixth corps, in 
heavy columns," says Dr. Stevens, "rushed across the field, 
cleared the abatis, and seized the rebel works, while the Sec- 
ond division, on the left, discovering a strong force of enemy 
planting a battery on our flank, engaged them and forced 
them back. Smith's command, also by a desperate charge, 
seized nearly the whole line in the front, that on the extreme 
right, in front of Brooks's command, alone remaining in the 
hands of the rebels. The whole line thundered with the in- 
cessant volleys of musketry, and the shot and shell of the ar- 
tillery shrieked and howled like spirits of evil. 

"The sun was sinking red in the west, and the clouds of 
dust and smoke almost obscured the terrible scene. Hun- 
dreds of our brave fellows were falling on every side, and 
stretcher bearers were actively engaged in removing the 
wounded from the field. The First division, after a stubborn 
resistance of a few mintues, was forced to give up the line of 
works it had captured and fall back. Only the Third division 
held its ground. The others had advanced as far, but the 
ground was unfavorable, and in spite of the most determined 
efforts to hold the line they were forced to swing back." 

During this terrible slaughter of our brave comrades. Cap- 
tain Rhodes continued, with his battery, to fire upon the dar- 
ing enemy showers of iron hail, and receiving in return a no 
less shower of shot and shell. After our infantry had failed 
to capture the rebel works we continued to fire slowly until 
night set in. Again, says Dr. Stevens : As darkness came 
on, the conflict still raged, and sheets of flame rolled from one 
end of the line to the other as the discomfited rebels strove 



3IO HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

desperately to regain their lost ground. But as the sound 
of battle died away at nine o'clock, the advantages gained 
by us were still held, and our men set to work to strengthen 
the works they had captured from the enemy, and to throw up 
new ones. 

Again and again the rebels rushed against the Union lines, 
hoping to regain their lost ground, but without success. 

After quiet had been restored, Captain Rhodes was ordered 
to move the battery behind some breastworks about five hun- 
dred yards in front of the enemy's lines. We had fired all 
of our ammunition except the canister. The caissons, late 
in the evening, were taken to the supply train and the am- 
munition chests refilled. The battery fired during this day's 
engagement 583 rounds of ammunition, or about one hundred 
and forty-six rounds from each of the four pieces present. 
We had been almost constantly for four weeks on the march, 
night and day, sometimes over rough roads which often be- 
came, by the hot weather and constant travel, like a bed of 
ashes. 

Such was the march preceding this battle, and when at 
midnight, we were relieved from our guns, although the bul- 
lets fired by the watchful foe in our front were constantly 
dropping in the midst of us, we lay down upon our blankets 
and slept as soundly as though we were upon our beds at 
home. 

Captain Rhodes and Lieutenant Parker, our new officers, 
had not before had so good an opportunity to show their valor 
as at this battle. In our engagements during this campaign 
we had been covered from the view of the enemy by woods 
and breastworks in our front, but in this engagement we had 
no cover or protection whatever. Captain Rhodes, although 
possessing a nervous temperament, was evervwhere directing 
the actions of his battery in a manner that revealed the quali- 
ties of a veteran. Lieutenant Parker was as ever cool and 
self-possessea, showing a valor that in every way was an 
honor to himself and a credit to the battery. Lieutenants 
Freeborn and Allen were, as in former battles, brave and 
efficient officers. Sergeants Humphrey, Chandler, Tanner, 
and Donnelly, who had guns to command, were, as ever, con- 
spicuous in the performance of their duties. Hargraves and 
Lewis the other chiefs of pieces having had their guns turned 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 3II 

in acted wherever their services were most needed. Sergeant 
Hargraves who was always cool and reliable in battle, would, 
had he not been deprived of his piece, have rendered the 
battery still more service. 

The corporals and privates in this, as in previous battles 
had performed their duties with their usual fidelity and 
bravery. 

The battery wagon, in charge of George I. Cole (harness 
maker), the forge which was driven by Elias H. Mathewson 
accompanied by Albert A. Hopkins, the blacksmith, together 
with the men in charge of the spare horses were sent about 
half a mile to the rear as usual during an engagement. Hop- 
kins had previously been a corporal, but owing to there being 
no other person qualified for service as blacksmith he was 
taken for that purpose. This was a misfortune, as no man 
in the battery had showed more coolness and bravery, and 
had it not been for this change he would probably have been 
a sergeant before the end of his term of service. Fortunately 
our loss was unaccountably small, as only one man, Martin 
Brannan, was slightly wounded in the back. 

About two A. M. on the 2d, our caissons arrived with their 
chests refilled with ammunition. About this time. Sergeant 
Humphrev was sent in search of water for our horses but 
none was found, and we had, I believe, to get it from a well at 
Jones's Tavern in our rear. Our horses, by strict orders of 
Colonel Tompkins, had not been unharnessed during the 
night. In fact they had been in harness a large portion of 
the time since the 4th of May, many of them having sore 
backs and all of them badly used up by the long and severe 
service ot the campaign. 

In the morning, Warren's corps was moved slightly to his 
left so as to unite with the Eighteenth corps between which 
there was a gap. Burnside, who was on Warren's right, was 
ordered to withdraw and mass his troops in Warren's right 
to protect his flank, and if necessary to support him if 
attacked. 

Hancock, who held the right of our line, early on the 
night of the ist began to withdraw, and between seven and eight 
A. M. on the morning of the 2d, was in position, on the left 
of the Sixth corps. In his front was Hill's corps and the 
divisions of Breckinrid<re. It was intended to have made an 



312 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

attack early this morning, but for prudent reasons it was 
postponed until half past four on the morning of the 3d. 
Birney's division during the morning was sent to support the 
Eighteenth corps, while changes in that corps were being 
made, returning to his corps in the afternoon. 

The withdrawal of our right being observed by General 
Lee, he ordered an attack upon our right flank by a portion 
of Ewell's corps which brought on a sharp engagement which 
lasted until night, neither side gaining any advantage, although 
Burnside lost a large number of prisoners and Warren a few 
of his skirmishers. The Confederates lost one of their best 
officers, Brigadier-General Doles, who was killed. 

Late in the afternoon the hot and sultry air was somewhat 
cooled by a shower which was a great blessing to the wounded, 
who lay between the line where no aid could reach them. 
During the 2d both armies were at work strengthening their 
lines for the coming conflict. At daylight we were aroused 
from our slumbers, and after a hasty breakfast were at our 
guns waiting for the fight to commence. Promptly at the 
hour appointed the Second, Sixth and Eighteenth corps, says 
Humphreys, "advanced to the attack, under heavy artillery 
and musketry fire, and carried the enemy's advanced rifle-pits. 
But then the fire became still hotter and cross-fires of artillery 
swept through the ranks from the right of Smith to the left 
of Hancock. Notwithstanding this destructive fire, the troops 
went forward close up to the main line of intrenchments, but 
not being able to carry them, quickly put themselves under 
cover, and maintained the positions they had gained, which 
in some places were but thirty, forty, and fifty yards from the 
enemy's works." 

The loss in officers and men was heavy, and especially so 
in brigade and regimental commanders, who are the leaders in 
action. The greater part of the fighting was over in an hour 
or less, though attacks were renewed after that time. The 
killed and wounded of these three corps in that time 
exceeded 4,000. 

Including the Fifth and Ninth corps, the total number 
killed and wounded was over 5,600. The same author con- 
tinues to say, " The Sixth corps advanced to the attack, with 
Russell's division on the left, Rickett's in the centre, Neill's 
(Getty's) on the right. The advanced rifle-pits were carried 



1864.1 FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 3I3 

on the right, and then the assault on the main line was made, 
but was repulsed with heavy loss. Yet positions were 
gained and held close to the works, at some points only thirty 
or forty yards from them. 

" During all this time, besides the direct fire, there was an 
enfilade artillery fire that swept through the ranks from the 
right and from the left. The casualties of the corps were 
some 800 killed and wounded, among the number valuable 
officers. " 

On the right, Burnside had captured the enemy's advanced 
lines in the morning and held them awaiting the hour of one 
p. M., when it was hoped that our successes on the left would be 
such as to give hope of success on the right. Just as Burn- 
side was about to advance to the attack upon the enemy's 
main line, orders came from General Meade '' suspending all 
further offensive operations, and directing corps commanders 
to intrench the positions they held, and make reconnoissances 
with a view to moving against the enemy's works by regular 
approaches from the advanced positions they held." 

After the reception of this order Burnside was attacked 
by Early, which brought on a sharp engagement in which 
Warren was also concerned. The contest did not stop until 
night. The losses in these two-corps was about 1,200 killed 
and wounded. Birney's division was sent to Warren's aid, 
but hostilities had ceased before he advanced his lines. Birney 
remained here until the 5th, then returned to his corps, and, 
taking a position on its left, extended it to the Chickahominy. 
In this engagement Battery E opened fire in concert with 
the corps, about four and a half a. m., firing at first rapidly, 
sometimes by battery. After the assaults were made and 
failed, we slackened our fire, but continued it by intervals for 
some three hours. After firing sixt}' solid shot and thirty- 
two case shot we ceased firing. Shortly after discontinuing 
our fire General Ricketts sent for Captain Rhodes, who 
upon reporting was ordered to report to Colonel Horn. On 
reporting he was requested to examine a position to place a 
battery. " It was found to be," says Captain Rhodes, " way 
out on the skirmish line, and in a low swamp covered with 
brush so thick that we could not see five paces in front, and 
within thirty yards of the enemy's sharpshooters, and having 



314 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, " [June, 

a rebel battery on the right, within good canister range to fire 
on my right flank. 

" I reported to General Ricketts, and described the position 
to him, and said that I was willing to go in there if he thought 
it desirable. He said he did not, and ordered me to return to 
my command and await further orders." 

Judging from the description, it is doubtful, had we been 
sent to that position, that any one belonging to the battery 
would have lived to write or read its history. Previous to 
this engagement breastworks had been thrown up in front of 
the guns, mostly by our own men. At least they had been 
strengthened during the day before, so that we were quite well 
protected from the infantry firing, but from the sharpshooters 
we had but a poor shelter, as they were firing from the tree 
tops in our front. It was from these or frorii the artillery 
that Sergeant Humphrey was severely wounded between 
seven and eight o'clock in the morning. The wound was 
upon the left arm just below the shoulder, the ball or piece 
of shell passing directly across the arm and then extending 
downward leaving the wound in the form of a right angle. 
Just how the \vound received its shape, has never been satis- 
factorily settled. Captain Rhodes, who had a moment before 
been speaking with him, says that he heard the whizzing 
sound of a shell which exploded in their midst, and he has no 
doubt that the wound was caused by a piece of this exploding 
shell. 

Humphrey was assisted to the rear, remaining there until 
morning, when he, with other wounded men, was carried to 
White House Landing. At night he boarded a steamer for 
Washington, arriving the next evening and was placed in 
Lincoln hospital, remaining there until the iith when he was 
sent to Patterson hospital near Baltimore, where he remained 
until the 27th of June, and then receiving a furlough, started 
for his home in Tiverton, R. L 

Joseph McCarty was also slightly wounded on the 3d, and 
one horse was killed. Several others had narrow escapes, 
one of these being Captain Rhodes, who a short time after 
the fighting had ceased, was standing with Captain Harn, 
of the Third New York Battery, under a tree, and just as 
both had stepped away a solid shot struck the tree and 
cut it down. Captain Harn, observing the narrow escape, 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 315 

quaintly remarked, " Captain Rhodes, that's just the place 
for us, for lightning strikes but once in a place." 

During the evening of the 3d, the rebels made a sudden 
dash upon the left of the Sixth Corps and the right of the 
Second, a very determined effort being made to enter our 
lines, but the rebels were repulsed. No more fighting at 
Cold Harbor occurred, except by sharpshooters and skir- 
mishers, although two attempts were made by Lee on the 6th 
and 7th to attack our right flank, but both proved a failure, 
as his troops became entangled in the swamps in that vicinity. 

June 4th. Sergeant Hargraves now took charge of Hum- 
phrey's second detachment. Since the 17th of May, when two 
of our guns were turned in, Hargraves had only his caisson 
with its horses and drivers to care for, but these were now 
turned over to Lance Sergeant Lewis, who now had charge 
of what remained of the third and fourth detachment. Our 
horses were taken one mile to the rear and grazed, greatly to 
their benefit. During this and nearly every evening for a 
week after, the skirmishing was lively, sometimes accom- 
panied by brisk artillery firing. Never were the men who 
occupied the front lines in so much danger as at Cold Harbor. 
The most trifling movement would bring on a brisk firing. 
Breastworks were built at the angles to cover our movements. 
Trenches were dug through which our men could go after 
water and whatever else was necessary. Yet with all the 
precaution taken not a day passed but that scores were either 
killed or severely wounded. 

"The whole plain occupied by our army," says Stevens, 
"was dug over. General ofificers had their tents erected in 
deep excavations surrounded by embankments of earth, and 
special duty men had each prepared for themselves burrows 
in the ground. One was reminded in riding over the plain, 
of the colonies of prairie dogs with their burrows and 
mounds." 

The sufferings and privations of our men in the intrench- 
ments were severe, but what shall be said of the hundreds 
that fell wounded between our lines during the fight of the 
first and third day. Here they lay uncared for until the 
7th, when a flag of truce brought relief to those who had 
not been relieved by the angel of death. A few of these 
wounded had been brought in at night by their comrades, 



o 



1 6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 



but many had died before relief reached them. This is but 
a miniature picture of the barbarities of war, yet we claim for 
ourselves a high degree of civilization. What a burlesque ! 

June 5th. Turned out at 3 a. m. as usual. Our troops 
busy to-day digging covered roads, and cutting driveways 
through the woods on our left. The cannoneers were con- 
stantly at their guns, but the drivers were more at liberty. 
Besides their usual care of the horses they had to take them 
daily to the rear to graze. 

Corp. Allen Gardiner, one of the original members, took 
leave of the battery, having been discharged on the 4th to 
accept a commission as second lieutenant. Gardiner enlisted 
in September, 1861, was mustered into the ser^'ice on the 30th 
of the same month as a corporal. On the 14th of March, 
1862, he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the first 
piece, which position he held until the 7th of October 
following, when, owing to a physical inability to ride horse- 
back, he was at his own request reduced to a corporal, serv- 
ing as such during his remaining service in the battery. As 
before stated, Gardiner passed the Casey board on the 2d of 
February, 1864, as second lieutenant. After his arrival in 
Rhode Island from the army, he passed his time among his 
friends until the 24th when his commission reached him, bear- 
ing the date of May 1 1, 1864. He was instructed to report to 
Beaufort, South Carolina. On the 27th he left Rhode Island 
for New York, and sailed froni there in the Star of the South 
on the 3d of July, reaching his destination on the 8th, and was 
at once assigned to Company F, Twenty-sixth Regiment of 
United States Colored Troops. He served in this regiment 
initil the 21st of June, 1865, when he was transferred to the 
Forty-sixth Regiment (also colored), serving until Aug. 
28, 1865, when he resigned. A letter written by Mrs. 
Mary A. Clarke (his half sister), dated Jamestown, Rhode 
Island, Aug. 12, 1890, says, "Allen was married Dec. 28, 
1869, to Mary Kate Carr, daughter of Peleg C. Carr and 
Catherine W. Weeden, his wife, both of Jamestown, Rhode 
Island. The second year after the war Lieutenant Gardiner 
went south and took a plantation in Christ Church parish, 
near Charleston, South Carolina, and planted cotton for a 
number of years ; he returned to Jamestown with his family 
in 1875. His health after his return began to fail steadily 




vM '///"^'■y/:^^'W/00ff';.-\ •■■■0?, 



Lieut. Allen Gardiner. 



1S64.J FIRST K. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 317 

In 1882 he went to Florida for his health, returning in July 
of the following year, and lived about six weeks, and died 
Sept. 14, 1883, of consumption. 

His ancestors were of more than ordinary note. His 
grandparents on his mother's side were Samuel D. Allen 
and Joanna (Eldred) Allen. He was a farmer and a man of 
great dignity of character and held the office of sheriff of 
Washington County, Rhode Island, for many years, dying in 
office in 1828. His grandfather on his father's side was the 
Honorable Benjamin Gardiner, of Middletown, Rhode Island, 
a man of wealth and large influence. He was an influential 
vestryman in Trinity Church, Newport, for over thirty years 
and is honorably mentioned in the "Annals " of that church. 
He also was a farmer. 

His father's name was John H. Gardiner, of Middletown, 
Rhode Island, and his mother was Lucy A. Allen, of North 
Kingstown, Rhode Island. He, too, was a farmer and a man of 
marked ability and influence. Although often solicited to 
take office he always refused. He died Nov. 7, 1873. His 
mother died Jan. 2, 1887. The subject of this sketch was 
born in Sherburn; Chenango County, New York, March 14, 
1839. He was educated in the district schools and the 
academy at East Greenwich, R. I., attending the latter in the 
years of 1857 and 1858. In 1859 ^^ attended the academy 
at Alfred Center, New York. Returning to Rhode Island 
he entered the Normal School (then at Bristol), to prepare 
himself for teaching, but, failing in health, he had to leave the 
school, and went to Charleston, South Carolina, and spent 
the winter. Then, returning to Rhode Island, he took a 
course of studies in Eastman's Commercial College, return- 
ing the next year to Charleston, where he entered the ser- 
vice of D. Otis Clarke (his half sister's husband), as book- 
keeper in a wholesale grocery store, serving at the same time 
as correspondent of the Providence Press. He remained 
here until the Rebellion made it necessary for him to return 
north. In 1866 and 1867 he was elected to serve his town in 
the General Assembly. 

He was an influential member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic and of the Royal Arcanum, but he never sought to 
be an officer in either. Lieutenant Gardiner had a genial 
and social nature and was well versed on all general sub- 



3l8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

jects. Although not physically strong, he nevertheless per- 
formed the duties belonging to the service very commend- 
ably. His departure was regretted by every member of the 
company, by whom he was highly esteemed for his manly 
and gentlemanly conduct. Allen left a widow and four chil- 
dren, two boys and two girls. His father married twice (two 
sisters). By the second wife, Allen was the only child. By 
the first, he had one son and one daughter. To the latter, 
who is a woman of fine ability and of most excellent character, 
I am indebted for many facts relating to her half brother's 
history. 

June 6th. Our breastworks were built higher, leaving port- 
holes for our guns. The enemy fired a few shot across our 
flank causing quite a commotion for a short time. 

Eighteen condemned horses were sent to the White House 
Landing, and ten new horses were drawn. Fourteen detached 
men were returned in charge of the writer to their regmients, 
their term of service having nearly expired. Some of these 
men were among our best, and had served in our battery since 
July, 1862. Several of them were from the Fortieth New 
York (Mozart),' some from the Fourth Maine, and others from 
Pennsylvania regiments. It was not until the afternoon of 
the next day, that some of these regiments were found, and 
some of them were so near to the enemy's intrenchments that 
we were not permitted to reach them, the men having to wait 
in the rear for night to cover their approach. 

June 7th. Rather quiet to-day. Our camp was policed and 
Captain Rhodes had another tent pitched for the officers. 
Our teams were brought up from the rear. Between six and 
eight p. M., under a flag of truce, our dead were buried. Dur- 
ing the time a more friendly intercourse was held between 
the lines, the men exchanging papers and resorting to other 
friendly acts not unusual at such times. Shortly after, Meade 
issued orders that in the future such intercourse should cease. 
June 8th and 9th all remained comparatively quiet. 
June loth. A good supply of clothing was received from 
the White House Landing. Private George H. Kelly, who 
had been severely wounded at Gettysburg, returned to the 
battery from the hospital. 

June nth. The day opened with unusual quietness, 
although it was observed that headquarters orderlies were more 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



319 



than usually active. Rumors were afloat that no more attacks 
would be made at Cold Harbor. To do so, would have, in the 
opmion of every competent judge, resulted only in another 
useless slaughter, which had been according to Phisterer's 
Statistical Records, 1,905 killed, 10,570 wounded and 2,456 
missmg, making a total of 14,931. Add to these the 3,000 
sick sent north to the general hospital, and we have in round 
numbers a loss of nearly 18,000. By adding to the loss at 
Cold Harbor, the losses in the Army of the Potomac and that 
of the James since crossing the Rapidan, we have the fright- 
ful number of over 61,000 a number equal to the army com- 
manded by General Lee at the commencement of this 
campaign. 

June 1 2th. The eighteen detached men, still serving in the 
battery, were returned to their regiments undercharge of the 
writer. Like those who were returned on the 6th, they were 
among our best men and their departure was sincerely 
regretted. The places of these men were filled by a detail of 
twenty-five men from the Ninth and Second New York 
Heavy Artillery, the latter being from the Second corps. 



320 HISTORY OF BATTERY E [June, 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

June, 1864. 

Crossing the James River. — Assaults upon the 
Intrenchments of Petersburg. 

GENERAL GRANT, from the beginning of the cam- 
paign had decided, should he fail to beat Lee's army- 
north of the James, to throw his army south of that 
river and attack Richmond from the south. In accordance 
with that intention, orders were issued for the movement to 
commence on the night of the 12th. On the 9th General 
Meade had ordered a new line of works to be built in rear of 
our lines at Cold Harbor. Behind this line the Second and 
Sixth corps moved after dark on the night of the 12th, and 
they were to hold it until the roads were cleared by the other 
troops for their withdrawal. Warren was to cross the Chick- 
ahominy at Long Bridge. The Eighteenth corps was to 
return byway of White House Landing to Bermuda Hundred 
on transports. The Sixth and Ninth corps were to cross at 
Jones's Bridge, and the Sixth, after crossing the Chickahominy, 
was to take the road leading to Charles City Court-House. 
While waiting for the hour of starting, five men from each 
detachment were detailed to level the works in our front. 
After dark it was promptly done, after which we moved behind 
the new works just finished in our rear, but before moving 
leather washers were put on the wheels in order to lessen the 
noise in moving. It was about midnight when the forward 
movement of our corps began Our battery marched in the 
rear of General Neill's Second division, until six o'clock the 
next morning, when we halted about six miles from Bottom's 
Bridge on the farm of Dr. Allen. Here we fed our horses 
and got our breakfast and then resumed our march passing 



iSdi-] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 32 1 

Providence Church and Baltimore Cross Roads. We crossed 
the West Point Railroad at Summit Station, reaching the 
Chickahominy at Jones's Ford, crossed on pontoons about six 
p. M., and went into camp just beyond the river on a beautiful 
plantation said to have been owned b\- the rebel general 
Anderson. It was here that we staid on the night of the 
15th of August, 1862, when retiring from the Peninsula. 
Jones's Ford is twenty miles below Cold Harbor, Long Bridge 
fifteen miles. Bottom Bridge eight miles, and Windsor Shades, 
at the bead of navigation where our long trains crossed, was 
twenty-four miles below. The bridges at these places had 
been destroyed pre\ious to our arrival. To protect us while 
crossing the fords, Warren, with a portion of his corps 
crossed Long Bridge and moved out to White Oak Bridge, 
with the intention of impressing General Lee with the idea, 
that General Meade proposed mo\ing directly towards Rich- 
mond. The strateg)* wa^ more successful than was antici- 
pated and Lee did not fully comprehend Meade's intention 
until the 1 7th. The other corps promptly marched as ordered, 
the Second corps reaching the vicinity of Wilcox Landing 
just before night on the 13th. The Second was followed by 
the Sixth, Ninth and Fifth, who arrived within a few miles of 
the James River on the 14th. Battery E hitched up at three 
A. M., left park at six, marched to within three miles of the 
Jimes River and halted upon the estate of Ex-President John 
Tyler. The house was visited by large numbers. It was a 
charming spot to ever}- lover of the beautiful. The house 
had been almost stripped of everj'thing, the cabinet had been' 
taken away, the library robbed of its choicest volumes and 
sheets of music and books lay in wild confusion upon the 
floor. It was no credit to the perpetrators. 

After halting. Captain Rhodes was told that we should 
probably remain two or three days, and for that reason be had 
the camp arranged in good order. Harness poles were put up 
and the picket line was stretched in the woods in rear of the 
batter)'. Our horses grazed in a clover field, after which we 
ate our rations and then at ten o'clock we turned in to get a 
much desired rest It was seldom that the troops were 
marched so far and so constantly as they had been in this 
movement. The roads were verj' dusty, the men not having 
21 



O-" 



HISTORV OF BATTERY E, [June, 



been allowed their usual rations of coffee, were almost suffo- 
cated with dust, and, being extremely weary, they were soon 
asleep. 

The pontoon bridge across the James River was between 
Windmill Point and Fort Powhattan, the river at that point 
being 2,100 feet wide, and its depth in mid-channel was from 
twelve to fifteen fathoms. There were one hundred and one 
pontoons. Vessels were anchored in the channel, to which 
the pontoon boats were fastened. The bridge was begun at 
four p. M. on the afternoon of the 14th, and finished at mid- 
night. It was built by Major Duane and General Benham, its 
construction being commenced at both ends and finished in 
the middle. As soon as it was completed the Ninth corps 
trains and artillery commenced crossing, followed by the 
trains and artillery of the Fifth and Sixth corps. The troops 
of the corps crossed in the same order. Battery E hitched up 
on the morning of the 15th at three a. m., and the four gun 
detachments moved from the park soon after sunrise, arriving 
near the bridge about eight a. m., and halted to await its 
turn. The two extra caissons, battery wagon, forge, and other 
attachments, were left in charge of the writer to cross later. 
At nine o'clock the battery fell into line, crossed the bridge in 
safety, marched to the high table lands and halted about one 
mile beyond the river, where it remained all day and through 
the night. 

During the afternoon of the 15th my detachment of cais- 
sons with the battery wagon and forge, and with a like com- 
mand from the other batteries, accompanied by several 
regiments, were ordered forward with orders to keep well 
closed up, and allow no troops to pass through the column. 
We had proceeded about one mile when a regiment approached 
the column from an oblique direction and made an attempt 
to pass through the line. For a few minutes it looked as 
though we should have a battle of our own. At first, only 
high words were used, but when the head of the regiment 
attempted to force its wa}'^ through, sabres were drawn and 
whips and spurs were freely used upon the horses, which 
the troops resisted by using the butts of their guns upon the 
bodies of our horses, threatening at the same time to use the 
bayonet if we did not give way. But horse power proved too 
much for footmen and the victory was ours, although the 



^S6+.J FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 323 

poor horses carried their wounds for several days. We con- 
tinued the march to within one mile of the river, halted upon 
the Kittiquan plantation and remained all night. The next 
morning we hitched up, moved forward a short distance and 
unhitched, remaining so until near night. We had been left 
without extra rations and our commissary train had crossed 
the river, but the kindness of a sergeant in the First New 
York Battery, who loaned us a box of bread, relieved our 
hunger. 

Towards night our horses were ridden to a river for water. 
While there the drivers desired to bathe in the river, but 
while so doing orders came to hitch up and the men had to 
hastily dress themselves and hurry back to the caissons. In 
an hour or two we moved forward, crossed the pontoons in 
the darkness, and after an hour or so found the rest of the 
battery about two miles beyond the river. 

Previous to the building of the pontoon bridge a large fieet 
of vessels and boats was gathered at that point. It was by 
these boats that Hancock's corps crossed during the day and 
night of the 14th. On the 15th three ferry boats arrived, and 
by these his trains and the artillery, which had not before 
crossed, were rapidly conveyed to the south bank. During 
the evening of the 15th Hancock received orders from General 
Meade to move his corps towards Petersburg as soon as his 
rations arrived from City Point, which place was now our new 
base of supplies. General Smith as before stated, had 
returned to Bermuda Hundred, arriving there during the 14th. 
As soon as the Eighteenth corps arrived General Butler 
ordered General Smith to move the corps across the Appo- 
mattox and advance upon Petersburg. In addition to his 
own corps, he had to assist him 2,500 cavalry under 
Kautz and 3.500 colored infantry under Hinks. The works 
protecting Petersburg ran from the Appomattox east one 
mile ; then south three miles to a point one-half mile below 
the Norfolk Railroad, then west four miles to a point one 
mile west of the Weldon Railroad, then north two miles to 
the Appomattox River. Redans were built at intervals along 
this line of works, all being connected by well built rifle-pits. 
The line was about two miles from the city. General Beau- 
regard had command of these works, and at that time less than 
three thousand troops occupied them. After spending nearly 



324 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Jm.e, 

all the day in reconnoitering, about seven p. m. Smith 
assaulted the works with Hinks's colored troops, and in two 
hours had captured five of the redans with the rifle-pits con- 
necting them. These redans were defended with artillery, 
all of which were captured and over 200 prisoners taken. Our 
colored troops alone lost 507 killed and wounded. Hancock 
came up but was too late to render any assistance, except to 
relieve Smith's troops. 

"The next morning " says Grant in his Memoirs, " Hancock 
himself was in command and captured another redan. Meade 
came up in the afternoon and succeeded Hancock, who had to 
be relieved temporarily from the command of his corps on 
account of the breaking out afresh of the wound he had 
received at Gettysburg." 

Later in the day, Birney, then in command of the corps, 
was ordered by Meade to make an assault with the Second 
corps, and two brigades from both the Ninth and Eighteenth 
corps. The attack was made at about six p. M., and resulted 
in the capture of three more redans, "together with their 
connecting lines and the driving back of the enemy along the 
wholeline. The attackingforce suffered severely. The heavy 
fighting ceased at dark, but several vigorous attempts were 
made by the enemy during the night to retake their lost 
ground." During the fighting in the daytime our battery 
had not moved from its camp on the south bank of the James, 
where we were awaiting the crossing of the infantry of our 
corps, which was the last to cross, under protection of 
the armored ships and gunboats anchored in the river. 

We drew five days' rations while waiting, which fact in 
connection with the rapid movements of the troops towards 
Petersburg and the heavy cannonading in the same direction 
indicated, that we, too, should soon be engaged in the con- 
flict. At ten p. M. we hitched up and marched all night in 
company with the Second division of our corps. The First 
and Third divisions had been sent on transports to re-enforce 
Butler at Bermuda Hundred. We halted early on the morn- 
ing of the 17th and had breakfast, groomed our horses, then 
hitched up again, moved on towards Petersburg, reaching 
within about four miles of there, and then went into park at 
five p. M. The day was extremely hot and we were almost 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 325 

suffocated by the clouds of dust arising from tlie roads which 
had become Hke an ash heap. 

During our march we met Battery F of our regiment, and 
were surprised to find in its ranks Edward Austin, one of our 
best men, who had been sent to the hospital at Harrison's 
Landing in July, 1862. He was sent from the hospital by 
mistake to that battery, when it lay at New Berne, N. C. He 
was pleased to rejoin his old battery. 

At daylight on the 17th, we were listening to the heavy 
artillery firing in our front which we soon learned was caused 
by General Potter's division of the Ninth corps, who attacked 
the lines in his front, capturing four guns, five "colors, 600 
prisoners, and 1,500 stands of arms. In making these cap- 
tures Griffin's and Curtin's brigades were formed undercover 
of a ravineand moved with fixed bayonets close to the enemy's 
lines, when the command " forward " was passed along the 
line in whispers, and without firing a shot they charged over 
the enemy's works, capturing many of them while they were 
asleep. Others ran away without firing a shot, and the 
remainder surrendered without resistance. "Their lines 
were swept," says Griffin, "for a mile." The retreating 
enemy were followed up and driven into their new lines on 
the west slope of Harrison's creek. Later in the day 
these new lines were attacked by the Ninth corps, who 
succeeded in capturing a portion of the line and a few pris- 
oners. Our troops who captured the lines being out of 
ammunition were driven out in the evening by Grade's 
brigade which took many prisoners. General Barlow of the 
Second corps and Crawford of the Fifth corps supported 
Burnside in this attack. Our losses were severe. The 
enemy's new line now extended from the Appomattox River 
to the Norfolk Railroad. On the 17th General Smith with 
two divisions of the Eighteenth corps returned to Butler at 
Bermuda Hundred. Martindale's division alone remained, 
which, with the Second division of the Sixth corps, held the 
lines vacated by the Eighteenth corps. 

At an early hour on the morning of the i8th an advance 
was made upon the enemy's lines by the Second, Fiftli and 
Ninth corps. Upon reaching the lines it was found that the 
enemy had fled during the night, leaving behind many of 
their killed and wounded. On finding the line vacated Gen- 



-26 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [}une, 



3 



eral Meade ordered the three corps again to advance before 
re-enforcements could arrive, which, as was learned from the 
prisoners captured, were on the way. Twelve o'clock was the 
hour set for the assault. Birney being nearer the enemy's 
position made the assault at that hour, but he was 
repulsed, losing heavily, Burnside finding that the enemy 
had to be driven from the Norfolk Railroad Cut before reach- 
ing near enough to make an assault, was not able to join in 
the attack at that hour. Warren likewise encountered diffi- 
culties in his way ; besides having an open field to cross he 
was exposed to the fire of the enemy's artillery. Meade 
being unable to obtain a concert of action, ordered each corps 
to assault as soon as possible with its whole command. Late 
in the afternoon all the corps assaulted, but no substantial 
advantage was gained. The losses were considerable. 

Further to the right Martindale's division of the Eight- 
eenth corps advanced and captured some rifle-pits. The 
Second division of the Sixth corps advanced on the left of 
Martindale, but not so far. Our division loss was .slight. 

Our battery hitched up at daylight, and at nine a. m. 
moved one mile nearer to Petersburg and went into park 
upon the high land near the Beatty House. Upon our right 
and front ran the waters of the Appomattox. We had not long 
to wait before a twenty-pounder battery commenced firing 
upon our position. This battery was beyond our range upon 
the north bank of the Appomattox River. The fire was slow, 
but it was nevertheless very annoying. After noon the four 
guns of the battery were ordered to take a position half a 
mile or more to the front where it was to support the advance 
of Martindale's and Neill's divisions. The battery wagon, 
forge, two caissons and the spare horses remained in the 
camp in charge of the writer. After the right and left sections 
had left us the twenty-pounder battery continued at inter- 
vals to fire shots through our defenceless camp. A few rods 
to the north of the camp there was a large mound which had 
apparently been thrown up for some purpose, and behind this 
our caissons and horses were moved. This protected us from 
the ricochetting shots, but not from those of a higher range. 
No one was hurt, although some very good line shots passed 
through the camp. 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 327 

When the battery moved to the front by order of Colonel 
Tompkins it was placed in works from which some rebels 
were driven on the i6th. The position was about three 
hundred yards from the enemy's lines. The cannoneers of 
the battery immediately set to work to strengthen the earth- 
works in their front. It was at this time that Martindale's 
and Neill's divisions drove the enemy's heavy skirmishing 
line back upon their main works. Captain Rhodes was or- 
dered to advance further towards the enemy, leaving our posi- 
tion to be occupied by Captain McKnight's Fifth United 
States Battery. This order was soon countermanded, as it 
should have been, for our men were not willing to build 
breastworks for other batteries, who could as well build their 
own. 

" Soon after this," says Captain Rhodes, " Lieutenant 
Ewing, of Colonel Tompkins's staff, came and wanted that I 
should go with him and find a new position for the battery. 
We went up (to the right) towards Petersburg, and found a 
position within a mile of the city. General Hunt came up 
and soon after Colonel Tompkins, and they ordered me to 
take up my battery on the gallop. I took up the right sec- 
tion (Parker's) first, got it in position on the right of our lines, 
and opened on the enemy. Then up came Lieutenant Ewing 
with the left section and I put it on our left. Captain Dor- 
sey followed with the First Ohio and took position on our 
right and rear. Our lines charged aiid we opened on the 
town as also did Dorsey. Soon after the enemy brought a 
battery on our right flank and shelled us briskly with shrap- 
nel we could not bring our guns to bear on them, but 
Dorsey could, so we had to stand and take it. I lost five men 
wounded and six horses in about three minutes. After they 
opened I got some contrabands and had a traverse thrown up 
to protect my flank, keeping them at work all night. Here I 
fired the first shot into Petersburg." 

In selecting the position on the right Lieutenant Parker's 
account differs somewhat from that of Captain Rhodes. 
Lieutenant Parker says: "By permission of Captain Rhodes 
I was sent to the extreme right of our lines on the high river 
banks to examine for a new position. I found that by plac- 
ing our guns on the high bluffs we could easily shell the town. 
I reported this to Captain Rhodes. He asked permission of 



328 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

Colonel Tompkins to take the battery to the bluffs. After 
much entreaty the colonel consented that the captain 
should send out a section, claiming that the enemy had bat- 
teries across the river in easy range that would silence us 
and thereby cause us a loss which would exceed the gain. I 
was detailed to take the right section to the position and 
slowly open fire. I did so, and believe that we threw the first 
shot into Petersburg. It was nearly a mile range and we 
fired mostly solid shot. After awhile as no guns replied to 
us except rifles, the rest of the battery was brought up and I 
think fired a number of rounds also. An Ohio battery 
(Dorsey's) was placed on our right facing across the river at 
right angles to our front. We ceased firing for a time as 
there appeared to be no enemy of any force in our front. 
Suddenly a spirited infantry fire was opened upon us, and we 
resumed firing with shot, shell and case. By a premature 
discharge, owing to imperfect sponging of one of the guns of 
my section (2d piece) four men were severely wounded. 
William E. Hooper lost a large portion of his hand. The other 
men who were wounded being William Crothers, George H. 
Kelley, and Thomas Noland. This caused a temporary con- 
fusion in the detachment, but only for a few minutes, for the 
firing from this gun was resumed as before the accident. As 
my attention has been called to the allegation that the men 
would not stand to their posts at that time, I have deemed it 
pertinent particularly to describe the above incident, as it may 
all have arisen from that. I certainly did not hear Captain 
Rhodes make such complaint. The battery had quite an 
extended front, and I am free to say that I am not good 
authority for what transpired in any other section but my 
own. The firing continued until orders were given to cease." 

These two accounts vary in no essentials except as to who 
selected the position on the right. But the fact that Lieutenant 
Parker gave his account from memory a quarter of a century 
after the event, and Captain Rhodes's account was from his 
diary kept at the time the events occurred, the latter must 
necessarily be considered the most trustworthy. 

Besides the four men wounded by the explosion, one man, 
Emil Thomas was severely wounded by a rebel shell in the 
hand, which nearly destroyed the use of it. He belonged to 
Sergeant Chandler's piece (fifth). Thomas was a German and 



iS64 ] FIRST K. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 329 

joined the battery as a recruit, Aug. 8, 1863, and was a 
most excellent soldier. He never returned to the battery 
but was sent from the hospital to the Veteran Reserve corps, 
April 17, 1865. The battery fired in this day's action eighty- 
four solid shot, thirty-two shell, and seventy case shot. 

June 19th. The men of the battery were up at daylight, 
tired and exhausted. They had been kept at work upon the 
breastworks until after midnight. Although there was no 
regular engagement on this day, we kept up a slow fire at 
intervals, sometimes firing upon a steamer at the wharf in 
Petersburg and at the pontoon and railroad bridges over the 
river near the city. Sometimes the railroad buildings were 
objects that drew our fire. The sharpshooters were very 
troublesome, firing at every moving object within their range, 
one of their victims being Lieutenant Freeborn's horse, which 
was killed, and two or three other horses were wounded. 
Seventy-two solid shot, twenty-three shell and seventy-two 
case shot were fired by Rhodes's battery. The two divisions 
of the Sixth corps sent to re-enforce Butler returned to the 
Army of the Potomac on the evening of the 19th. 

June 20th. The battery remained in the same position. 
A hundred men had been detailed the night before to throw 
up a traverse in rear of the battery to protect us from the 
fire of a rebel battery that was placed on the banks of the 
river, which at this point was bent somewhat in the form of 
the letter S, and extended nearly to our rear. These men 
had worked all night upon the traverse and had not quite 
completed it when a terrible fire was opened upon us from 
the batteries, one from the rear and one from the right and 
rear, and the third directly from our front. " This fire," says 
Sergeant Slocum, " was the most terrible that I was ever 
under, and every man was ordered to lay low." " This fire," 
says Captain Rhodes, " was kept up some two hours or more, 
but our works were so good that only one man was hurt." 
After enduring the fire for awhile Captain Rhodes ordered 
the guns to open a slow fire upon these batteries. The con- 
test, although unequal, was continued until the enemy ceased 
firing. We fired ten solid shot, eight shell, and eight case 
shot. 

The men on detail throwing up the traverse immediately 
fled when the enemy's shot began to fall among them. The 



330 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

officers at headquarters with glasses were anxiously watching 
the result of the fire from our triple enemy, and in describing 
the affair afterwards said the many shells exploding above 
and around the battery looked like corn popping. Several 
staff officers called during the day, among them Captain 
Holmes, son of Oliver Wendell Holmes, he being on the corps 
staff. One of these staff officers informing Captain Rhodes 
that his battery would be relieved at dark, was requested to 
say to Colonel Tompkins that it was not his wish to be 
relieved ; but his desire was not granted, and at the time 
named we were relieved by Brinckle's Battery E Fifth United 
States and moved back to the rear about one mile, opposite 
Fort No. 6. In the meantime the caissons had remained at 
the same place. During the 20th a large crowd had gathered 
near the Beatty House to witness the hanging of a colored 
man for rape. The confederates were evidently watching 
the strange proceedings with their glasses, and whether they 
thought we were hanging a rebel spy or not was never known, 
but they opened a sharp artillery fire upon the assembled 
crowd, wounding a few men, but none of the official actors 
were hit. The scaffold was directly in line between us and 
the rebel battery, and for a few minutes the position was 
anything but agreeable. 

When the gun detachments moved to the rear, the extra 
caissons, battery wagon and forge joined the column and 
moved with it. 

Humphreys, in his J^irginia Cmnpaig^i , says : " It was now 
determined to invest Petersburg partially by a line of 
intrenchments directed towards the Lynchburg (Southside) 
Railroad. These intrenchments were to consist of redoubts 
connected by lines of infantry parapets with ditches and 
entanglements of slashing or abatis, which the army might 
be withdrawn from at any time, leaving a sufficient force to 
hold them and move to intercept the railroads and attack 
Lee's army in unexpected quarters south or even north of the 
James." 

The first move towards this investment was begun on the 
2 1 St. Burnside extended troops to the right covering the 
ground held by the Second and Fifth corps. The Fifth 
corps moved to the left of the Ninth, and by the evening of 
the 21st the left of this corps rested on the Jerusalem plank 



1864. FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERV. 33 1 

road where Fort Sedgwick was afterwards built. The Second 
and Fifth corps were moved towards the left and were to 
attempt the capture of the Weldon Railroad on the 22d. 
During the 21st our battery lay in camp, and put up 
shades with the expectation of remaining some days. In the 
meantime orders came to follow our corps. At 1 1 p. m. 
we left camp, and marched all night, but the movement 
being slow we' covered only four miles by daylight the next 
morning, when we halted, fed our horses, and prepared 
breakfast for ourselves. We remained here until afternoon 
when the battery moved a mile further towards the enemy's 
lines. At this time Captain Rhodes was sent for to report 
to Colonel Tompkins at the line of battle. After reporting 
he was ordered to report to General Ricketts. The general 
being present, assigned to him his position, and also gave 
orders to have a detail sent to throw up some earthworks for 
the battery, behind which we soon took position. 

In the meanwhile the Second corps connected its right to 
the left of the Fifth and swung forward his left towards the 
enemy's lines. The Sixth corps was ordered to move 
towards the Weldon Railroad and form its lines at right 
angles with the Second corps. In the movements of these 
corps an interval had been left unguarded by some oversight 
of Birney's, who was still in temporary command of the 
Second corps. Into this gap Gen. A. P. Hill, who had 
moved down the Weldon Railroad to protect it from Meade's 
threatened attack, threw Mahone's and Johnson's divisions. 
This attack was so sudden and unexpected, that Birney's 
troops were driven back in some confusion to the place from 
which they started in the morning. After the attack General 
Hill returned to his intrenchments taking with him about 2,000 
prisoners and four field pieces. During the evening the 
Second corps again advanced a short distance and halted 
until morning, when it made another advance to the point 
from which it had been driven the day before. "The Sixth 
corps," says Humphreys, " formed on its left, thrown back 
facing the Weldon Railroad, and about a mile and a half from 
it, its picket line close to the road." 

After our battery was in position an aid informed Captain 
Rhodes that the attack would soon be made by our troops, 
never once dreaming that General Hill had something to say 



332 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

as to who should open fire. The sudden change of program 
doubtless prevented our battery from being brought into 
action. 

On the 22d William H. Bailey was again sent to the hos- 
pital on account of illness. He never returned to the battery. 
He was a good soldier and sustained an excellent character. 
The severe strain of the service was more than his sensitive 
nature and diminutive form could endure. He died Oct. i8, 
1864, aged about thirty years. 

June 23d, the enemy was seen moving towards our left and 
we waited for an attack, but none came. Wright was anxious 
to attack, but Meade telegraphed him not to do so. Our 
camp was now prepaj-ed for as much comfort as the extreme 
hot and dry weather would permit. It had not rained since 
the 3d of June ; the surface water had dried up and the small 
streams had disappeared, making it necessary to dig wells for 
water with which to water our horses. One of these wells 
had been opened before our arrival and the water had 
to be drawn by buckets, a process which was somewhat slow 
and tedious. As several batteries had to be supplied from 
this well, it sometimes happened that one had to wait for 
another. For this reason the batteries vied with each other 
for the first supply. No ill will, however, was manifested by 
the beaten contestants. 

It was on the 23d that Israel Riley and Joseph F. Devens 
were sent by Lieutenant Freeborn, who was officer of the 
day, to City Point after a horse and some luxuries. Both had 
horses with full equipments, including two navy revolvers. 
On their return they stopped at a farm-house about one hun- 
dred yards from the road to purchase food and were kindly 
treated, being furnished with milk, honey, and biscuits, for 
which they paid. The people at the house seemed anxious 
to retain them. This fact aroused their suspicions so they 
started to go away, and just as they were mounting their 
horses five of Mosby's guerrillas made their appearance, firing 
five shots at them, but which failed to hit them, although 
the bullets whistled around their heads. Riley drew his 
revolver but had no chance to fire before he was covered by 
five revolvers. At this point Devens remarked, " Why didn't 
you ask us to surrender before firing at us like cowards.-*" 
To which they replied by threatening to blow out his brains. 



i864.] 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



303 




Israel Riley. 

{FamUiurhj knoicn us " Dad.'') 



At first they were taken to 
the woods and told that they 
were to be hanged. The few 
old men living in the vicinity 
had gathered to witness the 
execution, but after being 
questioned and finding that 
they had been civil and had 
paid for what they had re- 
ceived, the guerrillas decided 
not to hang them. After 
this they were taken to the 
house of Dr. Morgan and 
from there to Petersburg ; 
having. but one horse to ride, 
they took turns in riding on 
the way. Here they were 
taken to some general's headquarters and questioned, after 
which they were sent to Castle Thunder. Three days after 
they were transferred to Richmond and placed in the Tem- 
pleton building, opposite Libby prison. From there they 
were sent to Belle Island, kept there about a week, then 
transferred by cars to Lynchburg, and from there to Dan- 
ville. The road having been destroyed by Wilson's cavalry, 
they had to walk a distance of seventy-five miles. They 
reached Danville on the 4th of July in a nearly starved con- 
dition. Riley here sold his vest for four dollars, taking his 
pay in mouldy corn bread. Devens stole a pocket-knife 
from the rebel guard and traded it for a pie which gave them 
one good meal. On the 5th of July, they, with other prison- 
ers, were packed into cars like hogs and started for Ander- 
sonville, arriving there about two days later. They were 
kept in Anderson ville prison about three months, sharing all 
the horrors of that brutal prison. 

When the safety of the prisoners at Andersonville was 
threatened by the Union forces, they were put on board the 
cars for Augusta. When near that city they jumped from 
the train while passing through some woods. For two weeks 
they hid in the woods during the daytime, procuring their 
food at night from the slaves along their route. They were 
finally betrayed by some supposed friendly negroes, hunted 



334 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, IJune, 

down by bloodhounds in the swamps, were captured and 
taken to a prison at Augusta. Later on Riley was 
sent to another prison in South Carolina, where he was 
paroled with the sick and sent through Charleston to Savan- 
nah, from which place with other paroled prisoners was car- 
ried down the bay in a tug-boat, put on board a United States 
vessel on the second day of December, 1864, and sailed for 
Annapolis, Md. Here he received a furlough of thirty days. 
Before starting for Rhode Island he found Devens, to whom 
he gave some money, and then departed for home. The 
story of these two brave boys, were it given in detail, would 
make an interesting narrative, but the limits of these pages 
will not permit what in justice belongs to them. As soldiers 
they had but few equals in the battery. Riley, especially, 
because of his diminutive form, and his good-nature and 
generosity, became one of the pets of the battery. 

From the 23d to the 29th we lay quietly in camp. The 
weather continued to grow hotter, if possible, causing much 
suffering to those whose duties compelled them to be exposed 
to the hot sun, A better supply of rations began to arrive ; 
we also received some extra luxuries from the Sanitary Com- 
mission. Captain Rhodes had the tents of the officers 
pitched and shaded with boughs. Captain McKnight's bat- 
tery, the Fifth United States, was on our right, and Captain 
Harn's, Third New York, was near by. Both of these com- 
mands had been closely connected with us during this sea- 
son's campaign, their officers and ours becoming quite inti- 
mate. 

Our cavalry had not been idle during the commencement 
of the investment of Petersburg. Sheridan had made his 
great raid on the Virginia and Central Railroad, and had 
fought a brilliant battle with Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee at 
Trevilian Station, about eight miles southeast of Gordons- 
ville, returning by way of the White House, where he con- 
veyed a train of nine hundred wagons across the James River, 
not, however, without fighting another battle with Hampton 
and Fitzhugh Lee on the 24th of June. 

On the 22d of June, Wilson with 5,000 cavalry set out by 
order of General Meade, "to cut the VVeldon and South Side 
railroads and to continue the work of destruction until 
driven from it by such attacks of the enemy as you can no 



i8^4-] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 335 

longer resist," Humphrey's account says of Wilson: 
" Crossing the Weldon Railroad at Reams's Station, vvh'ch 
was destroyed, he reached the Lynchburg Railroad about 
fourteen miles from Petersburg. From this point to the 
crossing of the Danville Railroad at Burkesville, thirty miles 
of the Lynchburg Railroad was destroyed and the command 
then turned to and moved along the Danville Railroad, de- 
stroying it as they advanced, until they reached the Staun- 
ton River, by which time about thirty miles of this road 
also was destroyed." 

Wilson had been attacked by Gen. W. H. F. Lee's cavalry 
division at Nottoway, but he failed to prevent the destruction 
of the road. At Staunton River bridge he was confrx)nted 
by a force of militia and artillery, and at the same time he 
was attacked in the rear. Unable to advance further he 
determined to return by way of Christiansburg and Green- 
borough, and by noon of the 28th he reached the double 
bridges over the Nottoway River. From this point Wilson 
moved directly toward Reams's Station, believing that place 
was in our possession. Gen. W. H. F. Lee, who had closely 
followed Wilson, had kept General Lee well posted as to Wil- 
son's route. General Lee, learning that Wilson would at- 
tempt to reach Reams's Station, had on the 27th sent 
Hampton to Stony Creek dejDot, ten miles south of Reams's 
Station. Fitzhugh Lee followed Hampton as far as Reams's 
Station, where two of Mahone's brigades with artillery were 
posted. 

When Wilson arrived near these forces he was attacked 
by Hampton and a severe fight commenced, which lasted 
until night. Wilson, upon finding so strong a force in his 
front attempted to move westward by way of the Halifax 
road, and sent Kautz's division in advance, but before his 
own division was ready to follow he was again attacked by 
Butler's and Rosser's brigades on his flank, and at the same 
time was attacked by Hampton's other troops in his front, 
which was driven to the rear. This caused a separation of 
Wilson's command. Hampton now turned back and at- 
tempted to head Wilson off but only succeeded in reaching 
the rear of his division. Kautz moved forward, reached 
Reams's Station on the morning of the 29th, where he at 
once fortified himself and awaited assistance from Meade's 



336 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

infantry. To get this assistance Wilson sent one of his staff 
who dashed through a weak point of the enemy's lines and 
reached Meade's headquarters at about half past ten a. m. 
General Wilson finding himself unable to reach Meade's lines 
by the north and being nearly surrounded, issued all his 
ammunition and destroyed his trains and caissons. He then 
turned south, crossed the Nottoway River, moved eastward 
to Jarrett's Station, and then on to the Blackwater. After 
crossing he burned the bridge which he himself had to build 
before crossing. Here the enemy halted, and Wilson's own 
command reached the Army of the Potomac July 2d, having 
been gone ten days. Kautz was more fortunate. Finding 
that he could not fight his way around the enemy's right, he 
moved to the left of the enemy and succeeded in reaching 
the inside of our lines on the evening of the 29th. 

It was to assist Wilson out of this entanglement, that at three 
p. M., on the 29th of June, our battery with the Sixth corps, 
were ordered to march in haste to Rearns's Station. The day 
was hot, and before receiving marching orders we had been 
kept quite busy, having moved back our tents thirty paces, 
and remodeled our camp, besides having been inspected by 
General Wright in the morning. We moved as ordered, and 
reached the railroad at Reams's Station about eleven p. m. The 
march was about twelve miles from our camp and we were 
quite weary upon our arrival. The enemy having withdrawn 
before the arrival of our troops, we had nothing to do but to 
return to our camps. Before returning the infantry again 
destroyed the railroad for miles to the right and left of 
Reams's Station. The rails were laid across burning piles of 
sleepers, causing them to bend in such a manner as to 
become unfit for future use. The water tank and the depot 
buildings were also burned. The next morning we were up 
early awaiting events. During the morning we were 
mustered for two months' pay. At nine a. .\r. we received 
orders to build earthworks in front of our pieces, not knowing 
but the enemy would return and attack us. After waiting 
until night, we were ordered to start on our return, but only 
marched about seven miles and halted in a cornfield near the 
Jerusalem plank road. We marched behind General Getty's 
division. Getty had been absent, wounded since the battle 



tS6+.] first R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 33/ 

of the Wilderness, and had resumed the command of his 
division on the 28th. 

July I St. We remained in position all day and night, 
facing towards Reams's station, but no enemy appeared. 

July 2d. We hitched up early, and after sending a detail 
for some new horses, we started on our return to the camp 
we had left on the 29th of June, marching in rear of Captain 
Stevens's Fifth Maine battery. We reached camp at ten a. m., 
and found Captain Sleeper's Tenth Massachusetts battery 
occupying our camp, but they immediately moved out and we 
resumed our position. Our tents were at once pitched thirty 
yards in rear of the works, shaded with trees, and the camp 
was put in excellent condition as we expected to remain for 
some time. In the afternoon the detail returned with 
thirteen new horses. 

July 3d. Officers' quarters being shaded. Lieutenant Allen 
went to City Point, after stores from the Sanitary Commission. 
Our officers had several callers, among them were Captain 
Waterman and T. Fred Brown, of batteries C and B of Rhode 
Island. 



238 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, LJulj. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

July— August, 1864. 

Embarked for Washington and Return. 
The Mine Explosion. 

JULY 4th. The social calls continued among the several 
batterv officers in honor of our national anniversary. 
Captain Rhodes and his lieutenants treated the men 
with punch. Although the act was well intended and the 
motive appreciated by those who desired it, it was never- 
theless a very questionable method of improving the troops. 

July 5th-8th. The weather continued excessively hot and 
dusty Because of this we kept ourselves as quiet as our 
daily duties would permit. Taking care of our horses and 
keepincr the camp well policed was about all we had to do, 
spendino- the remainder of our time in the shade, writing 
to friends and engaging in such pastimes as were agreeable 
to us During this time, General Hunter, who was in com- 
mand of the Union troops, was being driven from the Shen- 
andoah Valley, and. on the 4th of July, Harper's Ferry was 
evacuated by our troops, who were followed on the 5th and 
6th by the rebel troops under General Early. Washington 
was now undefended except by a force of untried men who 
were then under the temporary command of Gen. Lewis Wal- 
lace It was to meet this danger that the Third division ot 
the Sixth corps, under General Ricketts, was sent to Balti- 
more, where it arrived on the 8th. We did not then suppose 
that our services also would soon be required to aid m repell- 
ing the threatened danger. 

On July 8th, the twenty-five men detached from the Minth 
and Second New York Heavy Artillery for service m our bat- 
tery were returned to their regiments in the evening, under 
the writer's charge. There is no record of their names. 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 339 

July 9th. The day passed quietly with us. Captain 
Waterman and Lieutenant McMillan, of Battery C, called 
upon our officers and remained until after supper. They had 
been gone but a short time, when orders came to pack up and 
be ready to move at a moment's notice. This order came at 
about nine p. m., and at 10.30 o'clock we were on our way to 
City Point, accompanied by the First and Second divisions of 
the Sixth corps. It was between eight and nine o'clock the 
next morning when we reached the vicinity of City Point. 
The night was very hot and the roads were covered almost 
ankle deep with dust, which was very suffocating to the thirsty 
and weary troops. It was not known to us then why the 
hasty move was made, but the next day we learned of Gen- 
eral Wallace's defeat on the banks of the Monocacy, and also 
that our troops were retreating towards the defences of Wash- 
ington. The infantry arrived at City Point before us, and by 
noon they were aboard the transports and were on their way 
to Washington, where they arrived and landed the following 
day at about nine o'clock. The people of Washington were 
overjoyed now that the veteran Sixth corps had arrived, and 
still more were they pleased when the Nineteenth corps, 
which had fortunately just come up from New Orleans, landed 
upon the wharves of the capital city. 

While the infantry were being put aboard the transports at 
City Point, the batteries belonging to the corps were parked 
near by, except that of Captain Harn's Third New York and 
our own, which went into camp on the north side of a strip 
of woodland near the Appomattox River, about two miles 
from the landing. Batteries C and G, of our regiment, Mc- 
Cartney's First Massachusetts, Dorsey's (H) P'irst, of Ohio, 
and McKnight's (M) Fifth United States, were put upon the 
transports on the nth, and followed their corps to Washing- 
ton. 

July 1 2th. Our tents were pitched temporarily, and some 
of us built a shade of boughs over our tents to break the rays 
of the hot sun. The officers' tents were pitched in the shade 
of the woods in front of the battery. In the morning our guns 
and caissons were washed and our harnesses cleaned. Nine- 
teen horses were condemned and twenty-three new ones were 
drawn. For the first time the sergeants were ordered to tent 
together, and they built jDleasant quarters expecting to remain 



^^O HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [J"b' 

some days Captain Rhodes sent to the landing and procured 
a larcre quantity of eatables from the Sanitary Commission, 
and distributed a good portion of it in the battery, an _ act 
greatly appreciated. A supply of clothing was also received 
and given out to those who were in need. 

July 13th. The day opened hot, but pleasant. A slight 
shower on the nth had laid the dust and made our condition 
more agreeable. As usual when encamping near where 
liquors could be procured, we were annoyed by a few men 
who made beasts of themselves by getting drunk, but they 
were exceptions. Several of them had to be tied up and 
otherwise punished. ... 

The sergeants had been at work improving their quarters, 
and had nearly covered them with green boughs, when ore ers 
came to pack up and move at once to the landing. In less 
than an hour we were on the way, and, on reaching the whart, 
at once commenced loading the guns upon the ferry-boat 
EaHc No 2 The cannoneers and a portion of the horses 
we?e ipon this boat in charge of Lieutenants Freeborn and 
Allen The drivers, with sixty-five horses, the chiefs ot 
pieces. Lieutenant Parker and Captain Rhodes, were upon the 
steamer Guide. We left the wharf at 9.30 P- m., moved 
into the stream, and, for some unknown reason, waited until 
about eleven o'clock, when we sailed as far as VVindmil 
Point, and then anchored under the protection of two United 

States gunboats. 1 i tr ^ 

At daylight on the 14th, we hove anchor and reached toit 
Monroe at eleven a. m. After a short stop we moved up the 
Chesapeake Bay to the Patapsco River, up which we sailed to 
Baltimore, reaching there with the steamer Gjiidc about 
sunrise on the morning of the 1 5th. We remained at anchor 
until near night, when we moved up to the wharf and un- 
loaded, remaining on the dock all night. The haglc, .\o 2, 
beino- a slow boat and heavily loaded, was not able to keep 
up, and, besides, she sprung a leak, and was obliged to stop at 
the mouth of the Rappahannock for repairs She resumed 
her sail at sunrise on the 15th, and reached Baltimore at mid- 

night. , 1 , ^1 1-1 

Early on the morning of the i6th, we unloaded the hagc 
No. 2, after which Captain Rhodes marched us to the Sol- 
diers' Home, where we received a good breakfast. We then 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 34 1 

hitched up and marched to Hampton Station, where we loaded 
the battery upon the cars for Washington. At eleven a. m. 
we started and reached the capital at three p. m. We at 
once unloaded and were ordered to the barracks at Camp 
Barry, where Captain Rhodes reported to Major Hill. Upon 
our arrival we learned that Early, after defeating the small 
force under General Wallace, had moved on toward the de- 
fences at Washington, met the Sixth corps, and that a sharp 
engagement had taken place in front of Fort Stevens. This 
fort lies north of the city, and is about five miles from the 
capitol building. President Lincoln had witnessed the bat- 
tle from the fort. He stood upon the parapet watching, with 
great interest, the movements of the troops before him. 
"Bullets came whistling around," says the Sixth corps histo- 
rian, "and one severely wounded a surgeon who stood within 
three feet of the President. Mrs. Lincoln entreated him to 
leave the fort, but he refused ; he, however, accepted the ad- 
vice of General Wright to descend from the parapet and 
watch the battle from a less exposed position." He so per- 
sistently refused to go, General Wright says, " I told him I 
should have to remove him forcibly. The absurdity of the 
idea of sending off the President under guard seemed to 
amuse him." The battle of Fort Stevens had been fought 
before our battery left City Point. Why we were sent is 
known only to those who were then in command. It is more 
than probable that we were sent with the intention of keep- 
ing us with our corps, and that a change of program was 
made after our arrival at Washington. However that may 
have been, we were allowed to remain in Camp Barry only one 
night. It was a very pleasant place and its quarters were ex- 
ceedingly comfortable. Too much red tape, however, was in 
vogue there for us. We spent the day in writing home to 
friends. Those who had the means supplied themselves with 
luxuries, eating what they could, and stowing away the bal- 
ance for future use. 

About five p. m., on Sunday, the 17th, orders came to re- 
turn to City Point. At six o'clock we left camp, marched to 
the wharf, and loaded the battery upon the steamers Guide 
and the Eagle, No. i. At ten p. m. we sailed down the river 
about twenty-five miles and anchored until daylight, when 



342 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Ju'y 

we continued our sail, passing Fortress Monroe about dark 
and anchoring some twenty miles up the James River. 

At daylight on the 19th, we were again on our way, the 
Guide reaching City Point about noon, followed by the Eagle 
two hours later. The battery immediately disembarked and 
reached the camp that we had left on the 13th, late in the 
afternoon. The last day of our sail was a disagreeable one, 
as it commenced raining early in the day, continuing until 
after we reached camp. This was the first rain that had been 
beneficial since the 3d of June, a period of forty-six days. 

We continued at this place until the 26th. During this 
time we received plenty of sanitary supplies by orders signed 
by our officers. Some of the men unwisely obtained an addi- 
tional quantity by forged orders. The sergeants lived like 
royalty, for they had a mess fund and paid for what they ate. 
Their bill of fare included the following dishes : Ham and 
eggs, apple sauce, canned beef, whortleberries, tomatoes, 
fresh meat, potatoes, pork and beans, strawberries, mutton 
soup, onions, apples, turkey soup, pies, and a variety of 
canned fruits and pickles. 

Our camp was put in good order, some of the men shading 
their tents. A new system of guard mounting, patterned 
after the regulars at Camp Barry, was established. 

All kinds of rumors were floating around, concerning our 
return to Washington, and some half dozen other places, but 
we were well satisfied to remain where we were and hoped 
all the rumors unfounded. But, alas, we were doomed to dis- 
appointment, for, at noon on the 26th, orders came to move 
to the lines around Petersburg. At two p. m., the command, 
"By piece from the left — front into column — march," was 
given, and we were on our way to the front, where we ar- 
rived just at night, taking possession of a vacated camp of a 
Second corps battery. This camp had been fitted up with 
excellent taste, being shaded with green boughs, also having 
arches of the same material to adorn its front. For three 
days we enjoyed this camp unmolested. In the meantime we 
had one manual drill, and after that we had only to enjoy the 
shade of our camp and listen to the incessant rattle of picket 
firing and the booming of cannon and mortars in the.intrench- 
ments about a mile to the front. It was here that we first 
learned of General Birney's appointment to the command of 



i864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 343 

the Tenth corps. The date of assignment was July 23, 1864. 
General Mott succeeded Birney in the command of the vet- 
erans, formerly of the old Third corps. 

General De Trobriand, who had been in command of the 
troops in New York City since the 2d of May, was relieved 
from that command on the 27th of June, and, on July 13th, 
he was assigned to the brigade formerly commanded by Gen- 
eral Ward, who had left the army at Spottsylvania. General 
Ord, on the 21st of July, was assigned to the command of the 
Eighteenth corps, relieving General Smith. The two corps 
of General Butler were now commanded by Generals Birney 
and Ord, their corps forming the right wing of the armies in- 
vesting Petersburg. Active preparations for an attack upon 
Petersburg had, for several days, been going on. This at- 
tack was to be preceded by the explosion of a mine, which 
had been excavated by the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania regi- 
ment, commanded by Lieut. -Col. Henry Pleasants, who had 
formerly been a mining engineer. The regiment was com- 
posed mainly of miners from the coal regions of Pennsylvania. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Pleasants first suggested the possibility of 
running this mine under the rebel works to General Potter, 
his division commander. General Potter conveyed the sug- 
gestion to General Burnside, who at once approved the plan. 
The next day (the 25th of June) the work was begun. Al- 
though General Meade passively consented to the movement, 
he did nor approve or give any aid for its completion. In 
fact, the only officers of high rank who gave it any confidence 
were Burnside and Potter. The dirt had to be removed in 
old cracker boxes, bound with iron hoops taken from old fish 
barrels. No wheelbarrows or mining picks were allowed. 
Instruments to make the proper surveys were denied, al- 
though the necessary instruments were at the army head- 
quarters. But General Burnside sent to Washington for an 
old theodolite, with which the surveys were made. 

By the 23d of July the mine was completed, which, with 
proper tools and instruments, could have been done in less 
than half that time. Only 8,000 pounds of powder were al- 
lowed, 14,000 pounds being the amount asked for. The mine 
was about one and a-half miles south of the Appomattox 
River, and about the same distance from P'ort Sedgwick, gen- 
erally known by the name of " Fort Hell." It was on a line 



344 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, 

running east from the south part of Petersburg, and about 
one mile from the suburbs of the city. The main gallery was 
511 feet in length, the left lateral gallery 37 feet, and the 
right lateral gallery t^S feet. In these lateral galleries were 
eight magazines each containing 1,000 pounds of powder. 

On the 26th, Burnside had, at the request of General 
Meade, submitted a plan of attack, which was, in substance, 
to spring the mine just at daylight in the morning, or at five 
p. M. The two brigades of his colored troops were to advance 
as soon as the explosion occurred, and, after reaching a 
proper distance, the leading regiment of one brigade was to 
wheel to the right, the other to the left, and at once to move 
down the enemy's works. The remaining columns were to 
move as rapidly as possible toward Cemetery Hill ; this once 
gained and held, the city would be at the mercy of Meade's 
artillery. For the execution of this movement Burnside had 
ordered General Ferrero, who commanded his colored divis- 
ion, to drill his troops with the view of acting upon this plan. 
To insure a better success in the attack following the explo- 
sion, General Grant had determined to lessen the number of 
the enemy in his front as much as possible. To this end he 
ordered the Second corps and two divisions of cavalry to the 
north bank of the James River. After crossing at Deep Bot- 
tom, the cavalry were to make a dash upon Richmond, if the 
chances were favorable, otherwise they were to destroy the 
two railroads from that city. These commands crossed the 
river on the 26th and 27th. The Second corps soon met the 
enemy on the New Market road, and a battery of four 
twenty-pounder Parrott guns were captured by Barlow's divis- 
ion. Sheridan's cavalry also encountered Kershaw's troops 
and was driven back some distance. Sheridan then dis- 
mounted his men, and, forming them behind the crest of a hill, 
attacked the enemy with his repeating carbines and drove 
them back in confusion, capturing some two hundred and 
fifty prisoners. To meet this attack, nearly one-half of Lee's 
forces had been sent from Petersburg, which left only three 
divisions to defend the city. Having now accomplished his 
designs, Gen-eral Grant ordered the return of Hancock and 
Sheridan to assist Burnside in the attack upon Petersburg. 

The time for the springing of the mine was at 3.30 a. m. 
on the 30th. The order to that effect was given on the 29th, 



iS64 ] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 345 

it reaching our battery on the same evening. It expressed in 
detail what every commander was expected to do. Burnside 
was to form his troops for the assault in time to move at the 
hour appointed ; General Warren was to reduce his troops 
holding the intrenchments to the minimum, and concentrate 
on his right to support Burnside ; General Mott was ordered 
to relieve the Eighteenth corps, which was to form in rear of 
the Ninth corps, ready to support the assault. All of these 
corps were to be accompanied by pioneers to open passages 
for artillery. The troops were supplied with ample intrench- 
ing tools, with which to hold the positions when gained. 
Hancock was to form after his return from Deep Bottom, in 
rear of General Mott's division, and hold his corps in readi- 
ness to follow up the assault, if successful. 

The same day that this order was issued, the plan of Gen- 
eral Burnside, allowing his colored division to lead in the as- 
sault, was overruled by General Meade, and sanctioned by 
General Grant. The manner of procedure after passing 
through the rebel lines was somewhat changed. General 
Burnside was greatly disappointed by this unexpected change, 
but he at once sent for his three white division commanders 
and allowed them to "pull straws" for the honor of leading 
the assault. Unfortunately it fell upon General Ledlie, who 
had commanded his First division only six weeks. 

During the night the troops assumed their allotted posi- 
tions and anxiously awaited the appointed hour for the explo- 
sion. When the time arrived the fuse was lighted and every 
man stood ready to move forward when the command was 
given. The hour came and no report was heard. Four 
o'clock came and still all was silent. It was thought the fuse 
had gone out, but who was to enter the gallery to see ? It 
was not long before two brave men volunteered their services. 
These two men were Sergt. . (afterward lieutenant) Henry 
Rees and Lieutenant Jacob Douty, of the Forty-eighth Penn- 
sylvania regiment. Rees first entered the mine and found 
the fuse had died out. He cut the fuse and returned for ma- 
terial, and was accompanied on his return into the mine by 
Douty, who helped in making a new splice. Both returned 
unharmed. " At precisely sixteen minutes to five o'clock," 
says Woodbury, " the mine exploded. Then ensued a scene 
which beggars description. The ground heaved and trem- 



346 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July- 

bled. A terrific sound, like the noise of great thunders, burst 
forth upon the morning air. Huge masses of earth, mingled 
with cannon, caissons, camp equipage, and human bodies, 
were thrown up. It seemed like a mountain reversed, envel- 
oped in clouds of smoke, sand and dust, upheaved by the ex- 
plosion of four tons of powder." 

After the smoke and dust had subsided it was found that all 
that remained of the great fort at Elliott's salient, with a six- 
gun battery, including the garrison of over two hundred men, 
was a crater 170 feet long, sixty feet wide, and from twenty to 
thirty feet deep. No sooner had the sound of the explosion 
reached the ears of our artillerymen than they opened fire from 
nearly two hundred guns and mortars. It was a scene never to 
be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to witness 
the magnificent display. The effect upon the rebel troops was 
astounding. To the right and left of the debris they fled, 
through fear of other explosions which they expected would 
follow. 

Had our troops promptly advanced as they had been or- 
dered, they could have reached the crest of Cemetery Hill 
with but little or no opposition. Instead of advancing to the 
right and left of the crater as was intended they should, 
they descended into the crater, and, finding themselves pro- 
tected, concluded to remain, although a portion occupied the 
vacated lines to the right and left of the mine. What was 
still worse. General Ledlie, who commanded the division, in- 
stead of accompanying his troops, remained behind in the 
bomb-proof. Potter's Second division soon became mixed up 
with the First, but after a delay, they extended their line to 
the vacated works of the enemy on the right. Only one brig- 
ade advanced beyond the rebel lines. This brigade soon be- 
came entangled in the rebel covered ways and trenches, and, 
being attacked by the enemy's- artillery, and seeing no sup- 
port at hand, it was compelled to fall back. General Wilcox's 
division followed the First, one brigade going into the crater, 
his Second moving into the trenches on the left of the crater, 
meeting with some opposition while doing so. Later on he 
attempted to form his troops and advance to Cemetery Hill, 
but the enemy had then brought such fire to bear upon him 
that he was unable to cfo forward. 



1864] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 347 

"Time was flying," says De Trobriand, " the opportunity 
was fast escaping- us ; the chances of success were disappear- 
ing as we were looking- on. Nothing could force the troops, 
crowded together in the crater or lying down behind the in- 
trenchments, to leave their position. . . . Towards seven 
o'clock the colored division received orders to advance in its 
turn. The blacks advanced resolutely, passed over the pas- 
sive mass of white troops, not a company of whom followed 
them, and, although their ranks were necessarily broken by 
the obstacle, they charged under a deadly fire of artillery and 
musketry which reached them from all sides at once. They 
even '-cached the enemy, took from him 250 prisoners, cap- 
tured a flag, and recovered one of our own taken by him. 
But they were not sustained. They were driven back by a 
countercharge, and returned, running in confusion to our 
lines where, by this time, a large number of the white troops 
were eager to return with them." 

The Confederates at first only attempted to hold the hill, 
but observing the confusion of our troops, they threw forward 
their troops to retake the abandoned trenches. Their artil- 
lery soon covered the ground occupied by our troops at the 
crater. To advance under this fire seemed impossible, and it 
was nearly as difficult to withdraw. General Meade, believ- 
ing that any further effort would be useless, at ten o'clock 
gave the order to retreat. Upon the reception of this order, 
General Burnside immediatelv sought the commanding gen- 
eral and earnestly requested that the order be rescinded. In- 
stead, he desired that the supporting corps should open upon 
the enemy and draw their fire from his troops. If this was 
done he thought the crest could be carried. While this con- 
troversy was in progress, the enemy appeared in still larger 
force, moving forward to attack. Our troops now attempted 
to withdraw in order, but being hotly pressed, they were not 
able to do so, and the retreat ended in some confusion. . Many 
were killed on the retreat, and over one thousand were taken 
prisoners. General Bartlett and Lieutenant-Colonel Buffum, 
of the Fourth Rhode Island regiment, being among the latter 
number. "Thus passed away," says De Trobriand, "the 
finest opportunity which could have been given us to capture 
Petersburg ^ince the day when Gen. W. F. Smith had pre- 



34^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July. 

sented himself in front of it, before the arrival of General 
Lee." 

As before stated, at the time when the fort was sprung, the 
troops not occupying the trenches were held in readiness to 
advance as soon as the opening was cleared by the Ninth 
corps. Captain Rhodes had, the night before, received orders 
to take his four guns to the front and report to J. Albert 
Monroe, who was then chief of the artillery of the Ninth 
corps. It was just after dark when these guns started, the 
two sections being in command of Lieutenants Parker and 
Freeborn. Lieutenant Allen remained in charge of the 
camp, in which were the gunless detachment (two caissons), 
the spare horses, and the artificers' teams. The guns went 
to the rear of the Ninth corps. It being dark when they ar- 
rived, there was some delay in finding the position they were 
ordered to take, which was just in rear of our lines, opposite 
the fort which had been mined. It was not until near mid- 
night that our cannoneers lay down to get a few hours of rest, 
not knowing but that it would be their last. 

At three p. m., on the morning of the 30th, the battery was 
hitched up, and, in common with the other troops, awaited 
the explosion. After the time set for the upheaval every 
minute was counted. Soon it was four o'clock and no explo- 
sion. What is the matter .'' Why do they not fire the mine .'' 
Has any accident occurred .-' Has the order been counter- 
manded ? These, with other impatient questions, were con- 
tinually asked, when at once the trembling earth seemed to 
vibrate under our feet. In an instant after an enormous 
mass sprang into the air, mounting skyward like a wingless 
mountain. Then it returned to earth, as though a shower of 
cannons, timbers, rocks, mingled with human bodies, was fall- 
ing from endless space. What followed has already been 
briefly stated. Its importance deserves a fuller notice, as the 
results expected would have been far-reaching, as much so, 
perhaps, as those of any other battle during the war; but in- 
stead it proved a cruel failure. It was not only discouraging 
to the officers and men in the army, but its effect upon the 
Northern people was more than serious. It gave renewed 
effort to the half disloyal element in the loyal states to crip- 
ple the government in its continued struggle for the suppres- 
sion of this uncalled for and wicked rebellion. 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 349 

General Meade attributed the failure of this affair largely to 
Burnside, and demanded his removal from a command in the 
army; but General Grant, believing the charges against him 
were frivolous, declined to remove him. A double investiga- 
tion followed, one by a Congressional committee, the other 
by a court of inquiry. The conclusions of these two bodies 
were quite different. The former, composed of the more dis- 
interested men, declared that the disastrous results following 
the explosion should mainly be attributed, to borrow the 
words of De Trobriand, " to the fact that the plans and sug- 
gestions of the general (Burnside), who had brought the pro- 
ject of mining the enemy's works to a favorable issue, and 
who had chosen and drilled his troops with care, to assure 
every advantage which could be drawn from the explosion of 
the mine, had been completely put aside by a general (Meade) 
who had shown no confidence in the work while it was going 
on, who had given it no assistance or declared approval, and who 
had assumed entire direction and control of it only when it had 
been completed, and the time arrived to reap all the advant- 
ages which could be derived from it." 

The court of inquiry was composed of General Hancock, 
president, and Generals Ayres and Miles. The judge advo- 
cate was Colonel Schriver, attached as inspector-general to 
the army staff. 

To be brief, this court reported that the failure resulted, 
"First, from the want of judgment in the formation of the 
troops to advance, the movement having been made mostly 
by flank instead of by the front ; second, the stopping of 
the troops at the crater instead of advancing to the crest, 
although at the time the fire of the enemy was of no import- 
ance ; third, the poor use made of officers of pioneers, of work- 
ing parties, and of materials and tools for their service in the 
Ninth corps ; fourth, certain portions of the assaulting column 
were not suitably led ; fifth, the lack of a competent leader 
of high rank on the scene of operations to order matters 
according as circumstances demanded. 

If failure had not resulted from the above causes, and if 
the crest had been occupied, success would still have been 
put in jeopardy from not having prepared in time in the lines 
of the Ninth corps suitable debouches for the troops, and 



350 HISTORY 'OF BATTERY E, [Ju'y. 

especially for the light artillery, as prescribed by the orders 
of General Meade." 

In conclusion, the court of inquiry ascribed the direct 
responsibility of the failure to General Burnside commanding 
the Ninth corps. Generals Ledlie, Ferrero and Wilcox com- 
manding the first, fourth and the third divisions, and Colonel 
Bliss (Seventh Rhode Island Volunteers) commanding the 
first brigade of the second division, specifying the portion of 
blame and the responsibility attaching to each. 

The limits of these pages will not permit a recital of the 
evidence given before the two bodies whose verdict has been 
stated above, except an extract from that of General Grant, 
who, before the Congressional committee ; said, " General 
Burnside wanted to put his colored division in front, and 
I believe if he had done so it would have been a success." 
This was the testimony of General Grant five months after 
the affair happened, and such I believe, will be the verdict of 
impartial history. Two weeks after the explosion. General 
Burnside was relieved from the command of the Ninth corps, 
his successor being Gen. John G. Parke. Soon after he 
tendered his resignation to the President who refused to 
accept it, saying, " that he might want to entrust him with 
an important command in the Fall." 

Soon after Lee's surrender, Burnside again tendered his 
resignation to Lincoln, which was later accepted by President 
Johnson. 

For the honor of General Burnside let no Rhode Island 
soldier, who may read these pages, fail to read the defence 
of Burnside at the mine, by Rev. Augustus Woodbury in his 
book entitled, Burnside and the Ninth Arniy Corps. 

The losses resulting from the battle of the mine as given 
by a revised table to be published in the official records, were 
504 killed, 1,881 wounded, and 1,413 missing ; total, 3,798. 
1,101 of the missing were captured in the crater. The loss 
of the enemy was about 1,200. 

Our battery did not return to camp until five p. m. They 
had carried no extra rations to the front with them, it being- 
sent there from the camp. Although the men of the battery 
had no service to perform, their situation was by no means 
agreeable. The day had registered over 90°, and some of 
the wounded whose sufferings did not add to our comfort, had 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 35 I 

been left near the guns, when the order came to return to 
camp, it was received with great relief. Our battery was 
one of those selected to advance through the rebel lines had 
the movement been a success. 

Late in the evening after our return, the battery which had 
built and occupied the camp before we had taken it returned 
and demanded the camp. Captain Rhodes did not dispute 
their claim, although when he took possession, he was not 
aware that they would come back. However, we occupied 
the camp untjl the next morning. 

August I St. Before leaving the camp. Major Allen, the 
paymaster, arrived and paid us for four months' service, 
beside the first installment that was due the re-enlisted vete- 
rans. After our financial affairs had been settled, the battery 
was hitched up, marched two miles or more to the rear and 
went into camp in a place selected by Captain Rhodes about 
half a mile in rear of General Meade's headquarters. It was 
in the woods, which were partly cleared to make room for 
the tents and for picketing our horses. The guns were parked 
upon a hill joining our camp on the north. There being no 
stream of water near by, two wells were dug in the camp, 
from which plenty of water was obtained for ourselves and 
our horses. This camp would have been pleasant had not the 
hill at the north prevented somewhat our receiving a supply 
of air from that direction. 

Here we remained until the 15th. Only a few incidents 
of much importance occurred during this time. On the 2d 
of August Captain Rhodes reduced First Sergeant C. P. Wil- 
liams to the rank of line sergeant. This was a surprise to 
us all, for we had not known but that he had given satis- 
faction as first sergeant. Doubtless Captain Rhodes felt 
justified in reducing him, but in that, I am confident no. 
enlisted man agreed with him. It was rumored at the time 
that Captain Rhodes thought him too amiable for that 
position. The captain now denies this, and thinks it was for 
disobedience of some orders, but does not remember what 
the orders were. 

The respect for Sergeant Williams was not lessened, but 
rather, increased by his reduction. Had the cause of his re- 
duction been of a criminal nature, he would probably have 
been reduced to the ranks, but instead, he was assigned as 



352 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

sergeant to the first detachment, taking the place of Sergt. 
James Donnelly, who was promoted to first sergeant. Don- 
nelly, at the time of his promotion, was sick, and did not en- 
ter upon the duties of first sergeant until the 8th. Sergeant 
Williams, in the meantime, continued to act m that capacity. 

We had either a field or manual drill about every alternate 
day. Several of these were by Lieutenant Parker, Captain 
Rhodes having been thrown from his horse, and, in conse- 
quence, was off duty. 

On the 9th we were startled by the sound of a heavy ex- 
plosion in the direction of City Point. Soon after we learned 
that the ordnance boat at that place had blown up, killing 53 
and wounding 126 of the colored troops who were there on 
guard duty. 

On August 14th the battery had a Sunday inspection by 
Captain Rhodes. Soon after orders came to be ready to 
move at a minute's notice. 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 353 



CHAPTER XXV. 

August— September, 1864. 

Battles of Deep Bottom Run, Weldon Railroad, 

Reams's Station, and Fort Rice — Thirtv-Thkee 

MeiV Return Home. 

ON the 15th, Captain Rhodes called at headquarters, 
and, while there, received orders to report the bat- 
tery to Col. J. Albert Monroe, who, in turn, ordered 
him to report to General Potter, commanding the Second 
division of the Ninth corps. About noon the battery started 
towards the left, reaching the Norfolk Railroad about four 
p. M. Here, for some reason, we were halted for an hour or 
two. Just before reaching the railroad there commenced a 
terrific thunder storm, and the rain fell in torrents, causing 
the low lands in our front near the railroad to be flooded, 
several feet deep. The camps, in many places, were also sub- 
merged, causing great inconvenience to the troops occupying 
them, Those of us who had no rubber coverings were, of 
course, thoroughly wet through. In this condition we moved 
forward, fording the deep water in our front, which barely es- 
caped reaching our ammunition chests. After going about 
one mile further, we halted three-quarters of a mile beyond 
the Fifth corps headquarters, where we remained until morn- 
ing. 

Early on the i6th the battery was moved a short distance 
west, and went into camp on the edge of some woods not far 
frotii Fort Sedgwick, better known as "Fort Hell." 

For two days the men were kept busy in policing the 
grounds, digging a large well, and in putting our camp in 
comfortable order. The officers' quarters were pleasantly ar- 
ranged for a permanent stay. 



354 HISTORY OP^ BATTERY E, [Aug., 

On the evening of the 17th we retired to our bunks, hoping 
to enjoy a night of quiet rest. We were permitted to do so 
until about two a. m., when we were awakened by solid shot 
crashing through the branches of the trees over our heads. 
To add to the terror, bullets straying from the rebel guns 
overreaching our lines, came and mingled with their more 
formidable, but not less destructive ally. No bugle call ever 
brought us from our slumbers quicker than did these unwel- 
come intruders. Not knowing what was to come, Captain 
Rhodes ordered the battery to hitch up, which was done in 
haste, yet I venture to say no ten minutes ever seemed 
longer to our excited drivers. This unexpected visitation 
lasted over an hour. Owing to the camp being set with 
numerous trees, behind which the men found shelter, only 
one man was wounded, his arm being broken near the shoul- 
der, while sitting in his tent. His name was Frank O'Meara, 
our battery tailor. Captain Rhodes sent for an ambulance, 
and he was conveyed to the hospital, from which he was dis- 
charged Feb. 6, 1865, on surgeon's certificate. 

August 19th. Another shower of shot from the enemy 
about two A. M. One of these shots passed through a tarpau- 
lin which was stretched as an awning over the front of the 
battery wagon, which was in charge of George I. Cole, our 
harness-maker. He had a narrow escape. 

About three a. m, orders came for Captain Rhodes to take 
his guns and relieve the Seventh Maine battery (Captain 
Twitchell) in a fort a little to the right and front of Fort 
Warren. One gun of this battery was dismounted by the 
enemy just before our battery relieved them. This battery 
belonged to the Ninth corps, and had been relieved to move 
with that corps to assist the Fifth corps in an effort to cap- 
ture the Weldon Railroad, which was at this time in progress. 
General Mott's division had, on the i8th, been recalled from 
Deep Bottom to relieve a portion of the Ninth corps. It was 
to this division that Captain Rhodes was ordered to report. 
After so reporting, he was ordered to have the horses, with 
their drivers and the sergeants, returned to camp. Fort War- 
ren is situated about a quarter of a mile south of the Norfolk 
and Petersburg Railroad, and lies southeast of the city of 
Petersburg. The rebel fort in front of our battery was about 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 355 

three hundred yards distant, and their picket line about one 
hundred yards. 

August 20th. Sergeant Williams was officer of the day. 

We also received another shelling, but no damage was done. 
Just before noon, by order, our camp was moved to the north 
side of the Norfolk Railroad, and three-quarters of a mile to 
the northeast of Fort Warren. This camp had just been va- 
cated by Griffin's United States battery. A shade of boughs 
over the stables remained, under which our horses were shel- 
tered. 

For two weeks after the mine fiasco, the army remained 
comparatively idle. On the 13th of August a movement was 
commenced, which, it was hoped, would enable Sheridan (who 
had succeeded Hunter August 7th) to drive the Confederate 
army, under General Early, from the Shenandoah Valley, by 
causing the return of re-enforcements, which had been sent 
to Early. An effort was also to be made to extend our lines 
further to the left, across the Weldon Railroad. It was de- 
sired that the enemy's lines in front of Petersburg should be 
weakened as much as possible by drawing their troops north 
of the James River. To accomplish this, the Second corps 
was marched, on the 13th, to City Point. After dark it em- 
barked on board of steamers, and, as a ruse, it sailed down 
the James River a few miles, then reversed its course, and, 
on the 14th, was landed upon the north bank of the James, at 
Deep Bottom, a distance of ten miles from Richmond. Han- 
cock, after landing his troops, moved out towards the right, 
with the intention of flanking the enemy at Bailey Creek, 
while General Barlow, with two divisions, was sent to strike 
the enemy's flank and rear, and General Mott's division 
threatened them in front. 

The next morning (the i6th), our cavalry, with Miles's 
brigade, moved up the Charles City road to draw the rebel 
troops from the front of Birney's Tenth corps. In this our 
troops were successful, driving the rebel cavalry within seven 
miles of Richmond. During this advance the rebel general, 
Chambliss, was killed. 

At ten A. M. one division (Terry's), of Birney's corps, one 
brigade of Mott's division, and one brigade of colored troops 
under Gen. William Birney, attacked the enemy's works near 
Fussell's Mill, and, after a sharp engagement, carried them, 



356 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

capturing three colors and over two hundred prisoners. Four 
guns were previously taken by General Mott's division. 

Owing to the non-arrival of re-enforcements our troops 
were soon forced to yield the ground captured. Neither side 
gained any material advantage as the result of several days of 
fighting. Our loss was about three thousand and that of the 
Confed'erates not over eleven hundred; among the latter 
killed were Generals Chambliss and Cheradic. 

The Second and Tenth corps having succeeded in drawing 
a portion of Beauregard's troops from the lines of Petersburg, 
the movement for the capture of the long coveted Weldon 
Railroad was commenced. For this purpose Warren had pre- 
viously withdrawn his corps (the Fifth) from the intrench- 
ments, and the Ninth corps extended its left to occupy the 
place vacated by the Fifth. On the i8th Mott's division of 
the Second corps, as before stated, relieved the Ninth. The 
other divisions of that corps remained north of the James. 
The object of this was to retain the rebel troops there, that 
they might not interfere with Warren's movement on the 
Weldon Railroad, 

The Fifth corps, as directed, moved on the i8th and 
reached the Globe Tavern near Six Mile Station unmo- 
lested, and Griffin's division began the destruction of the rail- 
road, which was guarded only by a small force of rebel cav- 
alry. Ayres's and Crawford's divisions moved at once up the 
railroad toward the city, while Cutler's division remained in 
the rear as support. General Beauregard, when he learned 
of this, sent General Heth's division, supported by the bri- 
gades of Davis and Walker, down the Vaughan road, and, about 
two P M., attacked Ayres's left, which was driven back. 
Ayres soon rallied his troops, and, in turn, drove back the 
enemy, who left his dead and wounded on the ground. War- 
ren's loss was 544 killed and wounded, and his missing num- 
bered 392. The enemy's loss was probably equally severe. 

On the 19th Cutler's division was sent to the right of 
Ayres's division, and attempted to connect with the picket 
line of the Ninth corps. This was a difficult task as the 
country was covered with dense woods and underbrush 
through which it was almost impossible to penetrate. General 
Lee, Teaming from Beauregard the condition of affairs, sent 
back from hfs left the division of Mahone's infantry and his 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 357 

own cavalry to Petersburg. Our troops were also rc-enforced 
by three divisions of the Ninth corps. These divisions were 
relieved by the Eighteenth corps being extended to its 
left, filling the places of the three divisions withdrawn. 
In the afternoon Gen. A. P. Hill, with Davis's and Walker's 
brigades under General Heth, and three brigades under 
Mahone supported by Lee's cavalry and Pegram's artillery, 
moved down the Vaughan Road to attack Warren. Soon 
after four p. m. the enemy advanced to the attack. Mahone 
who commanded the rebel left, being familiar with the 
thick woods, succeeded in reaching the rear of Crawford's 
division and forced it to fall back in the utmost confusion, 
taking with it a part of Ayres's right. Heth's division 
at the same time attacked Ayres's left and center which 
bravely held its ground, Warren quickly reformed the 
broken troops, advanced again to attack Mahone who was 
driven back, losing some prisoners. In this attack Warren 
was ably to supported by the three divisions of the Ninth 
corps present, General Wilcox on the right of the line 
facing that of Mahone's. The divisions of Generals Potter 
and White reached the field later formed at Warren's center, 
charged the enemy's lines and restored the lines which were 
in danger of being overpowered. After repeated attempts to 
drive our troops from the railroad, the enemy retired, leaving 
the Weldon Railroad in our hands, and which we continued 
to hold. The new lines extending east from the railroad 
to the left of the Second corps near the Jerusalem Plank 
Road, was now occupied by the Ninth corps. 

Warren's loss in this affair was 382 killed and wounded, 
and 2,518 missing, 1,805 o^ the latter being those captured 
from Crawford's division. Among our captured was General 
Hayes. The enemy's loss was severe. On the 20th 
Warren reformed his lines on more favorable grounds a mile 
or two further to the rear, where his artillery could be of 
more service. 

On the 20th, Hancock's remaining divisions were with- 
drawn from the north side of the James River, and returned 
to share in the unsettled affairs created by the captured of 
the Weldon Railroad. 

General Lee, finding that the Second corps had been with- 
drawn, decided to make another attempt to retake the 



358 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 

captured railroad. Accordingly, General Hill, with his own 
corps and a part of Hoke's division, and Lee's cavalry 
opened upon Warren's front and right flank with thirty guns, 
and at ten a. m. assaulted our troops with his infantry, but 
was promptly repulsed. Later on Mahone assaulted Warren's 
left flank, but before our lines were reached his line of infan- 
try was broken by the severe fire of our artillery. General 
Potter's division of the Ninth corps assisted in repulsing the 
enemy's assaults. The enemy's loss was considerable, he 
losing by capture alone five hundred and seventeen men and 
six flags. Among his killed was General Saunders. War- 
ren's loss was three hundred and one. Colonel Dushane, of 
the Maryland brigade, was killed, and General Cutler was 
wounded. This affair of the 21st involved the artillery as far 
as the Norfolk Railroad. 

As early as two a. m. the rebel artillery and mortars 
opened upon our battery in a lively manner, to which we 
promptly answered, firing twenty-six rounds. Some narrow 
escapes were experienced by our men. One of their shells 
burst so near to Captain Rhodes that the powder burnt his 
face. Another shell, a thirty-two-pounder, came crashing 
through the parapet and also struck near the captain, but as 
it failed to explode it harmed no one. 

At nine a. m. orders came to open fire rapidly, which was 
at once obeyed by firing sixteen rounds. This made a total 
of twenty-four solid shot, seven shell and eleven case shot 
that we fired on that day. During the day the writer had an 
exciting experience. He was ordered to deliver some ammuni- 
tion to the guns from the camp. In doing this a space of 
several hundred yards had to be passed over upon which the 
enemy's guns had a good range. A trusty pair of horses 
were hitched to a limber containing the ammunition, and 
William Owens, a brave man, was selected as driver. When 
all was ready we started, and, after reaching the plain, as was 
expected, a rebel battery opened a brisk fire upon us, but by 
the use of spur and whip we passed unharmed through the 
shower of shot and shell, reaching safely the covered way 
that ran in front of our battery. The firing continued some 
minutes after we reached a place of safety. Soon after the 
cannoneers came out of the fort and carried the supply to 
their guns. On our return a few more shots were fired, but 



1S64.] FIRST K. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 359 

we escaped unharmed. Although the danger was considerable, 
it was, nevertheless, more enjoyable than otherwise. 

On the 22d, our battery fired three shots, two solid and 
one case shot The rebels were seen mounting heavy guns 
on the right of our battery, and Captain Rhodes reported the 
fact to General Mott, requesting that a detail of men be 
sent to throw up a traverse to protect the battery against 
their fire, which request was granted. The Seventh Niaine 
battery returned, two of their pieces were placed in the 
fort with ours, the other four in Fourt Warren in our rear. 

There had formerly been eighteen guns in our fort, but 
they had been reduced to four. Perhaps they had been with- 
drawn on account of rumors that the fort was being mined 
by the enemy. The fact that a shaft was being sunk in the 
fort showed that some credence was given the rumors, but 
no mine was discovered. 

At the camp nothing of importance occurred except that 
private Henry Gerber was severely kicked by a horse. It 
was thought at first that he would die. He was carried to the 
hospital by William H. Phinney, our ambulance driver, but he 
soon recovered. 

August 23d. The large guns mounted by the enemy the 
preceding day opened fire at night before the detail of men 
had finished the traverse. One of the shot smashed a wheel 
and ammunition chest in Corporal Robbins's gun detachment, 
but otherwise did no damage. Private William Whittemore, 
who had been absent on clerical duties at Sixth corps artillery 
brigade headquarters since May, 1864, reported to the bat- 
tery for duty. 

August 24th. Our camp, with those of the other brigade 
batteries, moved three-quarters of a mile to the right, taking 
with us our caissons. Our tents were pitched where they 
could be seen by the enemy. This was to give the enemy 
the impression that we had received re-enforcements. We 
had, in fact, only troops enough in our intrenchments to 
make a good picket line. This was owing to the fact that 
Mott's division was under orders to march to the left to re- 
enforce the other division of his corps, which had, for three 
days, been engaged in destroying the Weldon Railroad be- 
tween our lines and Rowanty Creek. 



J 



60 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., 



Five shots were fired to-day by our battery, and two the 
day before. 

By night on the 24th, Hancock had accompHshed the de- 
struction of the Weldon Raih'oad as far south as Malone's 
Cross Road, three miles below Reams's Station. This made 
it necessary for the Confederates to haul supplies from Stony 
Creek Station to Dinwiddie Court House, thence to Peters- 
burg over the Boydton plank road, a distance of thirty miles. 
The road was too important as a means of supply to be given 
up without a struggle. 

On the morning of the 25th, the enemy, who had been seen 
the day before moving down the Halifax and Vaughan roads, 
was reported to be approaching in force upon Hancock's left, 
which was held by Gibbon's division, while General Miles, 
with the First division, held the right of the line, both being 
behind breastworks which were thrown up by our troops that 
went to Wilson's relief in June, 1864. The troops that 
threatened Hancock proved to be Hill's corps, Anderson's 
brigade of Longstreet's corps, and Hampton's two cavalry 
divisions. 

At about two p. M. the enemy attacked Miles with great 
fury, but was met with equal courage, and the enemy for 
awhile retired. In the meantime, Meade had sent Wilcox's 
division of the Ninth corps and Mott's veterans, formerly the 
old Third corps, to Hancock's assistance, but before they 
reached Reams's Station where the fight was in progress. 
Hill had again attacked a portion of our lines with a large 
force. After a stout resistance, parts of our lines, composed 
of new recruits, gave way in confusion, leaving three batteries 
in possession of the enemy. Hancock now ordered the Sec- 
ond division to retake the guns and the lost position, but that 
division being composed largely of raw troops, they could not 
be induced to continue the fight, and fell back after a feeble 
attempt at resistance. Miles now rallied a portion of his 
First division at right angles with the breastworks, attacked 
the enemy, and recaptured Capt. George F. McKnight's 
Twelfth New York battery and a part of his lost line. 

Hampton, with his dismounted cavalry, now attacked Gib- 
bon's division, who fled from the breastworks without much 
resistance. Hampton, pressing on after the fleeing troops, 
was met by our dismounted cavalry with a heavy flank fire 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 36 1 

which brought him to a halt. Again Hampton advanced, 
this time upon Gregg's cavalry, who were forced by superior 
numbers to retire behind a new line, which Gibbon's defeated 
troops had hastily thrown up, where they found shelter. 

General Miles held the lines of retreat until after dark, 
checking every effort of the enemy to advance beyond the 
works which they had captured. Soon after our troops with- 
drew and the enemy made no attempt to follow them. 

The two batteries not recaptured were Sleeper's Tenth 
Massachusetts and Battery B of our regiment. The loss of 
Battery B in killed, wounded, and missing, was 52, besides 50 
horses, and all their guns. 

Lieutenant Perrin had his leg shattered. Lieutenants 
Chace and Spencer, with Perrin, all of Battery B, were taken 
prisoners. 

Hancock and Gregg lost 140 killed, 529 wounded, and 2,073 
missing. Total, 2,742. Nine guns were also lost by capture. 
The Confederate loss was 720 

August 26th. The unfortunate affair at Reams's Station 
being ended and there being no further use for a scarecrow, 
by consent of General Hunt we returned with the tents and 
caissons to camp. 

During the remainder of the month very little of interest 
occurred. On the 20th, Lieutenants James F. Allen and Ben- 
jamin Freeborn were ordered on detached service, the former 
as assistant-quartermaster, the latter as judge-advocate. 
Allen returned to the battery about the middle of September, 
but Lieutenant Freeborn continued to make the battery his 
headquarters. 

Our battery during this period fired a few shots nearly 
every day, and nightly the guns and mortars on both sides 
displayed their wrath over the heads of the troops who so 
faithfully held the lines around the city. The mortar shells 
arching their course through the air were a beautiful sight, 
sometimes reaching to sublimity, and to the guard on duty in 
the still hours of the night they were always welcome. 

On the 30th, by order of General Hunt, Captain Rhodes 
inspected Battery A, First New Jersey, the First Ohio, and 
the First New York Independent Battery. On the 31st, the 
two former batteries, and Brinckle's F, Fifth United States, 
were mustered by Captain Rhodes for two months' pay. 



362 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

The news of General McClellan's nomination for the 
presidency had now reached the battery, causing quite a sen- 
sation, especially among his few admirers in the battery. 

On the 31st, our battery was mustered for pay. This was 
the last muster for the old members not re-enlisting before 
returning home. Only one more month of service and they 
would be free men, and it must be admitted that, on hearing 
the pleasures of returning home talked about, we who had re- 
enlisted almost regretted, at times, that we had done so. 

The first three days of September were unusually quiet 
along the lines. 

On the 2d, a man was shot for desertion in rear of our 
camp. As usual, a division of troops was formed to witness 
the execution. The victim had deserted at Gettysburg from 
Battery K, Fourth United States Artillery. 

On the 4th, Corporals Samuel W. Austin and William S. 
Blair, who had remained in camp, were ordered to report to 
the fort for service on the guns. 

September 5th. Captain Rhodes was ordered to celebrate 
the evacuation of Atlanta by firing a shotted salute of thirty- 
three guns at midnight. The other batteries along the line 
joined in the celebration. 

Such a shower of shot and shell coming so suddenly upon 
the rebels caused a great excitement among them. " We 
could hear thorn turning out and the officers giving orders," 
said Captain Rhodes. After our lines ceased firing the rebels 
opened fire upon us, but no serious damage was done by 
them. 

September 6th. The military railroad being built along 
the rear of our lines passed so near our camp that our cais- 
sons had to be moved a few feet to the rear so as to give 
room for the tracks to be laid. This road branched from the 
Petersburg and City Point Railroad. It was begun on the 4th 
of September, and was completed as far as the Weldon Rail- 
road on the 1 2th. Later on it was continued about a mile and 
a half further. The road was only graded over swampy lands 
and the higher hills. It expedited the moving of troops from 
one point to another greatly, and hastened the moving of the 
wounded from the field to hospitals, thereby lessening their 
sufferinu'S in a areat dearee. 



iS64-] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 363 

At midnight our guns were taken from the front line and 
placed in Fort Warren, which was just in rear of the position 
that we had vacated. Eighteen days later the name was 
changed to Fort Rice, so named in honor of Brig.-Gen. 
James C. Rice, who commanded a brigade in the Fifth corps, 
and who was mortally wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania. 
The fort was one of the best along the line, having bomb- 
proofs and a magazine, the latter, however, not being finished 
until September 15th, and soon after filled with ammunition. 

On the 9th, Alfred B. Ramsdell, one of our most worthy 
men, was wounded in the head while eating dinner in the 
fort. He had a narrow escape from instant death. After a 
few days he returned to duty. The battery was inspected to- 
day by Captain Harn, who was temporarily in command of 
the artillery brigade during the absence of Major Tompkins. 
The chief of artillery (Col. Charles H. Tompkins) was absent 
with the Sixth corps in the Shenandoah Valley. The firing 
to-day was more than usual, our battery firing seventeen 
rounds. 

The loth of September was the most exciting for several 
days. The acting chief had notified Captain Rhodes to be 
prepared for action precisely at one o'clock a. m., when our 
picket line would be advanced. The object of this was, first, 
to push back the rebel pickets who were so near our lines that 
in case of an attack our artiilery would have trouble in work- 
ing their guns ; second, to break up a custom which the 
pickets on both sides had formed of meeting each other al- 
most every night in a little ravine near a spring, and freely 
trading their coffee for tobacco, besides indulging in the more 
dangerous traffic of exchanging New York for Richmond pa- 
pers. It was said that at one of these meetings one of our 
battery men was supplied with a rebel suit, and that he went 
in this disguise to Petersburg, remaining a portion of the 
night, and safely returned before morning. 

To advance our lines of pickets and stop these meetings 
was first proposed by General De Trobriand to General Mott, 
and, being approved by Hancock, it was decided to execute 
the movement at the hour above named. The troops selected 
for this daring feat were the Twentieth Indiana, Colonel 
Meikel ; the Second battalion of sharpshooters, and the 
Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, Colonel Biles. At the proper 



364 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, L^ept., 

hour these regiments were moved to near the point of attack, 
and there awaited the hour of the assault. " The moon had 
been down for an hour," says De Trobriand, " the darkness 
was profound, there was complete silence along the whole 
line, and the fires of the enemy's pickets were gradually be- 
ing extinguished. Soon a black mass in motion was dimly 
seen in front of the fort. Suddenly a shot, followed by 
twenty others, lighted up the rifle-pits, A dull sound of the 
feet of men charging on the run, a clamor formed by a thou- 
sand cries, voices threatening, furious, frightened, mingling 
with the crackling of musketry fire, confused sounds of fight- 
ing hand-to-hand, the thunders of artillery above all the rest ; 
all this filled the air at once. It was an affair of a quarter of 
an hour. The enemy surprised, overwhelmed by the human 
torrent which rushed upon him, gave way, and abandoned to 
us not only the section attacked, but still more of his line ; 
both to the right and to the left. The works were quickly 
turned by the companies provided with picks and shovels, 
and we were solidly established in the rifle-pits, which the 
enemy was not able to recapture." 

Precisely at the hour named our battery, with others, 
opened upon the terrorized enemy, who doubtless supposed 
we were about to charge their works. Although the infantry 
fighting was mostly over in a short time, the firing of our 
battery was continued some time after. We fired fifty-five 
rounds during this action. The young and brave oflficer, 
Colonel Meikel, was killed. We captured some two hundred 
of the enemy's pickets. After this much less traffic was car- 
ried on between the pickets. 

No further movements of the Army of the Potomac took 
place until the latter part of the month. Picket firing as 
usual, continued unabated, and more or less of artillery and 
mortar firing was kept up. 

The cars were now running over the lately finished military 
railroad which passed between our camp and the fort in which 
our guns were stationed. Upon these trains the rebel guns 
were almost daily turned, although the writer does not re- 
member of any damage being done. Some of the more ex- 
posed parts of the road were covered by embankments. This 
doubtless prevented some damage. 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERV. 365 

Previous to this we liad detached to us for service eighteen 
men from the First Delaware Cavahy, who were returned to 
their regiment on the 14th. To replace these, eleven men 
were detached from the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery. 
Among them were some excellent soldiers who remained with 
the battery during its unexpired term of service. Their names 
can be found in the roster. 

On the i6th, William H. Phinney, a most excellent man, 
who had been detailed as a driver in the Sixth corps ambu- 
lance train, was sent to the hospital, being disabled by a felon 
on his hand. It first appeared on the 22d of August, and it 
soon became so bad that fears were entertained that he would 
lose the use of a part of his hand, which he afterwards did. 
After two days in the brigade hospital, he was sent to the 
City Point Hospital, then to Emery Hospital at Washington, 
and from there to Portsmouth Grove Hospital, Rhode Island, 
where he arrived on the 28th of September. Here he re- 
mained until the battery returned home, when he rejoined it 
and was mustered out of service with the battery. 

Crawford A. Sayles, an ambulance driver with Phinney, 
was also sent to City Point Hospital on the 26th of August, 
being sick with fever. He died Aug. 27, 1864, and was 
buried at the Depot Field Cemetery at that place. He was a 
good soldier and excellent citizen. He left a family in Rhode 
Island to mourn his loss. 

It was on the i6th that the rebels made a raid and cap- 
tured over two thousand cattle, the Thirteenth Pennsylvania 
Regiment, with their arms, wagons and camp equipage, at 
Sycamore Church, near City Point. This was one of the 
boldest raids of the war. After this the rebel pickets would, 
at every opportunity, tantalize our men by raising the cry of 
"Beef! Beef! Beef!" 

September 17th. Two men belonging to the battery were 
slightly wounded by sharpshooters, but their names are not 
recalled. 

September i8th. Captain Rhodes was ordered to place one 
section of his battery to the right of the fort. The left 
section was so placed, but in about an hour it was found that 
Lieutenant Sawin, who brought the order, had made a mis- 
take. It should have been carried to a rifle battery instead. 
The guns were at once returned to the fort. 



366 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

September 19th. General Sheridan attacked the rebels 
near Winchester, and after a hard fouscht battle, gained a 
decided victory, taking twenty-five hundred prisoners, five 
guns, and nine colors. In this battle the Sixth corps took a 
prominent part. General David A. Russell, who commanded 
the First division, was killed, and Upton was wounded. At 
daybreak on the 21st, Battery E joined the artillery of the 
Army of the Potomac, firing a shotted salute in honor of 
that victory. 

• September 22d. The battery fired ten rounds. An attempt 
was made by the officers to get an informal expression of the 
men's preferences for president, but it proved a failure as only 
a portion would vote, the men at this time being more deeply 
interested in going home than in making presidents. 

September 24th. Another salute was fired by our battery 
in honor of Sheridan's second great victory at Fisher's Hill. 
The Confederate works at that place were carried by assault, 
the enemy routed and sixteen pieces were captured. 

Sunday, September 25th, was a pleasant day, especially so 
to the old members who had not re-enlisted, as it was the last 
Sunday for them before going home. It was well that they 
should be happy, for not only were they about to meet dear 
friends and companions at home, from whom they had been 
separated by three long years of hard service, but they also car- 
ried with them a faithful record of which they might well be 
proud. A few shots were fired, the last that were fired by the 
old members before leaving us. It was their farewell salute. 

September 26th. Captain Rhodes had an application made 
out by the company clerk to have the men whose term of 
service had expired relieved from further duty. It was first 
taken to Captain Harn, then to Generals Hunt and Williams, 
and finally to Captain Sanders, the chief mustering ofificcr, all 
of whom approved the application. Captain Rhodes had a 
few days previous applied for a leave of absence of twenty 
days. This was promptly granted and he was told that his 
papers would be ready for him to accompany the men, who 
would at once be relieved and ordered home in the morning. 
Captain Rhodes returned to camp and immediately ordered 
Charles H. Bogman, the company clerk, to complete the 
muster out rolls. In order to finish them he had to work all 
night. At night the men were relieved from further duty. The 



1S64.] FIRST K. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 367 

names of the men relieved were as follows, viz. : First Sergeant, 
James Donnelly. Line Sergeants, William Millen, Charles 
P. Williams, James A. Tanner, and Arthur W. Hargraves. 
Corporals, John AT. Battey and George H Pierce. Artificers, 
Albert A. Hopkins and Joseph D. Haney. Privates, Silas A. 
Brown, Seth B. Darling, Thomas T. Beard, John J. Mulhall, 
John McKenna, John Crothers, William Crothers, John W. 
Hollahan, Bartholomew Fitzgerald, Elias H. Mathewson, Jere- 
miah Potter, William H. Polk, Alfred B. Ramsdell, John Ryan, 
Edward Austin, John F. Simmons, Thomas W. Simmons, 
Palmer B. Taylor, Charles E. White, Gilbert A. Weaver, 
Albert B. Wilson, and Edson Walcott. Besides these thirty- 
three named who were relieved from the front, about half a 
dozen were discharged from the hospitals, and thirty-three had 
previously been discharged for disability and wounds. Seven 
had been discharged to accept promotion, three had entered 
the service of the navy, and twenty-one had been killed or 
died of wounds or disease, making a total of one hundred and 
one men. The names of those not given abpve will be found 
in a roster to accompany this work. Nearly all of the above 
enlisted at the time of the formation of the battery, or soon 
after. There may be some slight errors in the number of 
those absent and discharged for disability. 

Tuesday, September 27th. Captain Rhodes having received 
orders to take the men home they were up early, hastily ate 
their last army breakfast, and, after a hearty good bye to their 
old comrades, started at six a. m. upon the cars, accompanied 
by Captain Rhodes, for City Point, arriving there in time to 
take the mail boat CJiarlotte Vanderbilt for Washington. 
They left City Point at ten a. m., and reached the capitol city 
at seven a. m. the following morning. After a few hours stop 
in Washington they took the cars at 11. 15 a. m. for New 
York, arriving there at 11.30 p. m. They passed the night at 
the New England Soldiers' Home, and, on the morning of the 
29th, they marched to the depot and took the train that left 
at 8. 1 1 A. M., for Providence, where they arrived at about 
4 p. M. the same day, being received by a salute fired by the 
Marine Artillery. After this they were marched to the 
Marine Artillery armory on Benefit Street, where a collation 
was served to them, after which Captain Rhodes dismissed 
the battery until nine o'clock the ne.xt morning. The men 



368 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

were not mustered out until the the 3d of October. Owing 
to an error in the pay rolls, which had to be corrected, a delay 
in their payments was caused, which did not occur until 
Thursday, October 6th. After receiving their pay the hardy 
veterans wished each other a long and happy life and 
departed for their several homes. 

All of the sergeants who returned at the end of three 
years were non-commissioned officers from the organization 
of the battery except Sergeant Donnelly. Sergeant Millen 
who had been on detached serv-ice over fifteen months, was 
the only sergeant that went out as such with the battery. 
His fidelity to duty and his sterling patriotism deserves special 
mention His parents. Rev. John Millen and Mary G. (Came- 
ron) Millen, were born in Scotland and came to the United 
States and settled in New York City, where the subject of this 
sketch was born Nov. 16, 1836. He was educated in the 
public schools of that city. After leaving school he worked 
in a bakery for awhile, and afterwards in a book bindery. 
Desiring more active employment he gave up the book 
bindery business and went to Pennsylvania and engaged in the 
lumber business. He afterwards came to Rhode Island, and 
for a short time worked in the town of Exeter. Then he came 
to Providence and entered a paper box manufactory, where 
for a time he served as cutter. It was while here that the 
slaveholders' Rebellion attempted to dismember the Union. 
Being imbued with an ardent and patriotic spirit, he early 
entered the military service, and was one of the first to enlist 
in the First Rhode Island Battery as a private, in April, 188 1, 
The battery returned to Rhode Island after three months 
of service and was mustered out Aug. 6, 1861. After a 
few weeks of rest, he enlisted in Battery E, and was must- 
ered again into the service with the battery, Sept. 30, 1861. 

Immediately after joining the battery he was appointed 
one of its sergeants, and was active in drilling the men for 
service in the battery. He was assigned to the Fourth 
detachment, which he bravely commanded at the battles of 
Yorkstown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, 
Harrison's Landing, Kettle Run, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, 
Fredericksburg and Chancellors\'ille. June 8, 1863, he was 
ordered on detached service in charge of the Third corps 
artillery ordnance train. After the consolidation of that 




William Millen, 
Ordnance Sergt. 3d Corps Artillery Brigade. 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 369 

corps, he returned to his battery April 12, 1864, and for about 
three weeks acted as lieutenant in charge of the left section. 
On the 3d of May, 1864, he was again ordered on detached 
service as commissary sergeant in the Sixth corps artillery 
brigade, serving in that capacity until the expiration of his 
term of service. After the close of the war he resumed his 
business as paper box cutter for about two years. In 1867, 
he went into the house furnishing business on North Main 
Street, Providence, R. I., having as silent partner Dea. John 
L. Barber, of Exeter. About 1875 he bought out his partner 
and has since continued the business alone, being at present 
located in the Wayland Building, 130 North Main Street. 
Although not wealthy, he has by prudence and strict adhe- 
rence to business principles, accumulated a moderate com- 
petence. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. 
O. F., and is one of the most active and influential members 
of Prescott Post, No. i, G. A. R., being at one time quarter- 
master-general on the department commander's staff. He 
is a member of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical Society, 
and in 1889 was elected colonel of the Veteran Marine 
Artillery Association. He has been for many years an 
ofTficer in the First Rhode Island Light Artillery Vete- 
ran Association and for several years has been member 
of the First Baptist Church. Millen has been an ardent 
believer in the principles of liberty advocated by the Re- 
publican party, has many times been a delegate to its 
conventions, and has served also on the City Committee. In 
November, 1889, he was nominated and elected to represent 
the Fourth Ward in the City Council of Providence, and was 
twice re-elected to serve for the years 1891 and 1892. He was 
appointed on a committee by the Veteran Association with 
Lieut. P. S. Jastram and Capt. John K. Bucklyn, of which he 
was chairman, to superintend and erect a monument in 
honor of Battery E, which was erected on the battlefield of 
Gettysburg July 2, 1886. 

Millen is a plain, straightforward, outspoken man in his 
dealings with his fellow men, and has no sympathy with 
shams and hypocrisy. Aug. 20, 1891, he married Abbie M. 
Dye, of Providence, R. I., the estimable daughter of Thomas 
P. and the late Deborah (Kenyon) Dye, of Hopkinton, R. I. 

24 



370 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept. 



Although he never married until passing middle life, he has, 
nevertheless, always been a lover of social and domestic life. 
He is held by an extensive social and business acquaintance 
as an intelligent, upright, and honorable man. 

Sergt. Charles P. Williams, like Sergeant Millen, was a 
man of more than usual merit. His. father was Charles Wil- 
liams, who married Sally Phillips, both then living in Scitu- 
ate, R. I. Charles P. was born in that town Jan. 30, 1831. 
He was educated in the public schools and was an adept 
pupil, adding greatly to his knowledge by extensive reading. 
He was endowed with a strong love for public improvements, 
and aspired to a worthy social standing. He possessed a 
good degree of musical talent, both instrumental and vocal, 
and for many years was organist of the Baptist Church in 
Phenix, R. I. . 

In early manhood he joined the Kentish Artillery, located 
at Apponaug, in Warwick, R. I., of which he early became 
its captain. When the war broke out he took his company 
to Providence to enlist in the First Regiment in a body, but 
the regiment being full the company had to return home. 
He then enlisted as a private in that regiment for three 
months, serving in the first Bull Run battle, and was mus- 
tered out Aug. 2, 1861. In September he enlisted in Battery 
E, was mustered in Sept. 30, 1861, and appointed one of its 
first corporals. He served in that rank with distinction until 
Aug. 6, 1862, when he was promoted to sergeant and as- 
signed to the sixth detachment. 

As a sergeant he showed unusual merit, for which he was 
promoted to first sergeant Feb. 8, 1864. For some unknown 
cause he was reduced to line sergeant again Aug. 2, 1864, 
and continued such until he was mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Previous to the war he married Miss Ann M. Davis, daugh- 
ter of William and Susan Davis, by whom he had two chil- 
dren, a daughter and a son. The son, Charles H. Williams, 
is a well known manufacturer of jewelry in Attleboro, Mass. 
Annie May, the daughter, married William Henry Cole, a 
cotton mill superintendent, well known in the Pawtuxet 
Valley. 

After the war he designed to return to Virginia and go into 
busincs.s, but the death of his wife on the i8th of October, 
1864, changed his plans, and he engaged himself to take 



iS64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 37 1 

charge of the weaving- department at HarrisviHe, Coventry 
K. 1. While hving here he joined the Grand Army of the 
Repubhc, becoming commander of McGregor Post at Phenix, 
R. I., and being a few years later elected junior vice-com- 
mander of the Department of Rhode Island. For his sec- 
ond wife he married Martha H. Boyd. In 1*879 he moved to 
Attleboro, Mass., and engaged in the jewelry business, where 
he continued until a few years before his death. 

After the death of his second wife he lived with his son un- 
til his death, which occurred Aug. 30, 1889. His funeral was 
in charge of the William A. Streeter Post, of which the de- 
ceased was a member and past adjutant. The Attleboro 
Adzwafe, in referring to him, said : " The post formed and 
marched to the house. . . . When they were seated a 
quartette sang the touching soldier's song, 'The Vacant 
Chair,' the Rev. A. McCord, of the M. E. Church, read . 
selections of Scripture and made an appropriate and feeling 
memorial address, alluding to the valuable services of the de'- 
ceased in the hour of his country's peril. He was followed 
by Dr. Lester S. Hill, of Providence, an intimate friend and 
army comrade of Mr. Williams, who paid a touching tribute 
to the high character and nobility of the man of whom he had 
so close a knowledge. The tribute was a glowing and elo- 
quent one as to the purity and integrity of character alwavs 
displayed by his dead comrade in spite of the temptations and 
wickedness of army life." The following day his remains 
were taken to Rhode Island and buried near Washington Vil- 
lage, in the town of Coventry. 

Sergt. Arthur W. Hargraves was born in Bolton, England, 
July 4, 1837. He was the son of Robert Hargraves and 
Elizabeth (Farnsworth) Hargraves, who emigrated to the 
United States when Arthur was about two years old. They 
f^rst settled in Providence, R. I., where the subject of this 
sketch attended school until he was about eleven years old. 
His parents then moved to the Crompton Mills in Warwick, 
R. I., where young Arthur began work in the print work.s, 
becoming, in the course of a few years master of the art of 
bleaching. After this he served an apprenticeship at carpen- 
tering, at which trade he worked until the breaking out of 
the Rebellion in April, 1861. 



372 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

After the president's first call for troops, he promptly en- 
listed in the First Rhode Island Regiment, serving faithfully 
in Company H, under Captain Day. He participated m the 
first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, in which his regmient 
bore an active part. He returned home with the regmient 
and was mustered out Aug. 2, 1861. Bemg too patriotic to 
remain at home when his country was in danger, he again en- 
listed in Battery E, which left the state for the seat of war 
Oct. 5, 1861. Because of his former service and his apparent 
ability he was almost immediately promoted to a corporal, 
and was assigned to the fourth detachment, in which he 
served with ability in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, 
Fair Oaks, in front of Richmond, Glendale, Malvern Hill, 
Harrison's Landing, Kettle Run, Second Bull Run, and Chan- 
tilly. During these battles he displayed the merits of a brave 
soldier and was reputed to be one of the best shots m the 

battery. 

Nov. 14, 1862, he was promoted to sergeant, and was as- 
signed to the third detachment, which he commanded in 
the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg 
(where he was wounded), Payne's Farm, Mine Run, Wilder- 
ness, and Spottsylvania. At Cold Harbor, after Sergeant 
Humphrey was wounded, he assumed command of the sec- 
ond detachment, which he commanded during the engage- 
ment before Petersburg. He was mustered out of service 

Oct. 3, 1864. run 

On the 15th of November 1864, he was married to Isabella, 
daughter of Robert and Mary Shannon, of Warwick, R I., by 
who^m he had three children, two of whom are now living. 
After his marriage he remained at Crompton Mills for ten 
years, and then moved to Pavvtucket, R. I., remaining there 
also ten years, working meanwhile at his trade. In May 
1884, he moved to Providence where he had previously en- 
o-ao-ed himself, first as carpenter, but afterwards as machinist 
i^^i the Rhode Island Bleaching and Dyeing Works on Eddy 
Street, where he is at present (1891) employed. 

Sergeant Hargraves was never connected with any orders 
or socfeties except the Grand Army of the Republic, being at 
one time the commander of Ballon Post, No. 3, at Central Falls, 
R. I. He is now a member of Slocum Post, No. 10, of Provi- 
dence. 





1st Sergt. James Donnelly. 



1st Sergt. Charles P. Williams. 





Saigt. James A. Tanner. 



Sergt. Arthur W. Margraves. 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 373 

Hargraves has more than an ordinary mechanical ability, 
and has always been considered by his employers as an espe- 
cially useful and intelligent mechanic. 

Sergt. James A. Tanner was the son of Barton B. Tanner 
and Patience C. (Briggs) Tanner, of Coventry, R. I., in which 
town he was born May 9, 1833. He was educated in the 
public schools of that town, and at the "Aldrich School," at 
River Point, Warwick. He began work in the Harrisville 
IVIill, in his native town, remaining there until old enough to 
learn a trade; he then went to Providence and served an 
apprenticeship with a firm of carpenters and builders, at the 
head of which was the now well known lumber dealer, 
A. B. Rice. After a few years of faithful service with this 
firm, he returned to his native town and continued to work at 
his trade, building in the meantime a fine residence for the 
superintendent of the Harris Mills, of which he had charge. 
May 8, 1858, he was married to Miss Margaret M. Gibney, 
who has proved to be a most faithful wife and a devoted 
mother of two sons and one daughter. She was the daughter 
of Thomas and Mary Gibney. 

Soon after the war broke out, being endowed with a love 
for the free institutions of his country, he enlisted Sep- 
tember, 1 86 1, and was assigned to Battery E, which was then 
in course of formation. He was at once appointed one of its 
corporals, and served with honor in all the battles in which his 
battery was engaged previous to the campaign of 1864, being 
wounded at the battle of Gettsyburg and at Payne's Farm. 
Feb. 8, 1864, he was promoted to sergeant, being trans- 
ferred from the third to the sixth detachment. During the 
battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and in 
front of Petersburg, he commanded his detachment with 
credit to himself and to the battery. He was mustered out 
of service Oct. 3, 1864. In January, 1865, he moved to 
Cranston, and for nearly five years was in the employ of the 
A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Comj^any. In the autumn 
of 1869 he moved to Providence, and entered the service of 
the Gorham Manufacturing Company as carpenter. Next 
we find him as ship carpenter for tlie Neptune Steamship 
Company, running between Providence and New York. Jan. 
19, 1873, he was appointed upon the police force, serving 
until May 2j, 1880, when he resigned. After this he was 



374 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

employed on repairs at the Delaine and Riverside Mills, at 
Olneyville, R. I. It was while employed at the last named 
mill that his death occurred, Dec. 25, 1888. 

He belonged to Westminster Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which 
he was a past noble grand, and to Providence Lodge, No. 182, 
Knights of Honor, in which he was insured for two thousand 
dollars. 

In his early life he connected himself with the Methodist 
Church, at Phenix, R. I., of which he was an exemplary 
member at the time of his death. 

First Sergeant James Donnelly was born in Scotland, Feb- 
ruary, 1844. His father, Peter Donnelly, of Ireland, married 
Miss Grace Dunn, of Scotland. When James was eighteen 
months old, his parents emigrated to the United States, and 
soon after settled at Crompton Village in the town of Warwick, 
R. I. James, after attending the usual terms in the public 
school of that place, was sent to the "Aldrich School," at 
River Point. After completing his studies at that school he 
was employed at the print works in that village until Sep- 
tember, 1861, when with several of his village comrades, all of 
whom became excellent soldiers, enlisted in Battery E, which 
was then being organized. He served faithfully as a private 
until Aug. I, 1862, when he was promoted to a corporal, 
continuing as such until the day after the battle of Gettys- 
burg, when, owing to his sergeant becoming acting first 
sergeant, he took charge of the first detachment Feb. 19, 
1864, his sergeant (Seth Darling) at his own request, was 
reduced to the ranks, and Donnelly, then, the writer claims, 
was promoted to a sergeant. This Donnelly doubts, and 
thinks he only continued to act as such. However that may 
be, he continued in charge of that detachment until Aug. 
2, 1864, when he was promoted to first sergeant and was 
mustered out Oct. 3 1864, his term of enlistment having 
expired. That he was a brave and true soldier none can deny. 
He served unharmed in all the battles in which his battery 
was engaged. Soon after returning home he went into the 
employ of the Hartford, Providence and P'ishkill Railroad, now 
the New York and New England Railroad. By his faithful 
service he won the confidence of his employers, who advanced 
him to brakeman in 1866, and to conductor in 1872. He is 



1S64.] FIRST K. I, LIGHT ARTILLERY. 375 

now (1891) conductor on the Hope Branch of the New York 
Providence and Boston Raih'oad. He remains unmarried. 

This biographical sketch of Lieutenant Brown should have 
appeared on the page following an account of his promotion 
to lieutenant. 

Charles A. Brown was born in Ironston, Mass., Aug. 10, 
1837. His grandfather, John W. Brown, vyas a British 
soldier, and was taken prisoner during the Revolutionary- 
War. After taking the oath of allegiance to the United 
States he was for a while clerk for Gen. George Washington. 

His parents were Elisha and Pelthira (Hall) Brown. At 
an early age his parents moved to Rhode Island, and, after 
residing in several towns settled in Providence, where Charles 
at the tender age of seven years was put to work in a 
cotton mill. His schooling was mostly in the towns of Burrill- 
ville and Providence, finishing his education at Scholfield's 
Commercial College. Early in life he learned the business 
of house and carriage painting. He was a member of the 
City Horse Guards before the war, and was one of the first to 
enlist in Battery E, being mustered as corporal in the 
battery Sept 30, 1861. In March, 1862, he was promoted 
to quartermaster sergeant, serving in that capacity until 
April 14, 1863, when he was mustered as second lieutenant 
and assigned to Battery B, of Rhode Island. He was in com- 
mand of the famous Gettsyburg gun, now stationed in front 
of the state house. In both of these batteries he served with 
credit, and was at all the battles in which those batteries were 
engaged previous to his being captured by Mosby's guer- 
rillas, May 18, 1864. He was captured while on his return 
from Belle Plain to Warrenton Junction, having been sent 
there to turn in captured guns and condemned horses. After 
capture he was deprived of his uniform and sent to Rich- 
mond, Danville, and Macon, Ga. Here he made his escape, but 
after twelve days of liberty he was recaptured and returned to 
Macon, where he was placed in a dungeon, and, after six weeks 
of confinement, was taken with others to Charleston, S. C, 
where they were placed under fire of the Union artillery 
that were shelling that city from Morris Island. Here they 
remained until the severity of the yellow fever caused their 
removal to Columbus, S. C, where they were kept in an 
open field without shelter until Nov. 4, 1864, when with 



376 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., 

about twenty other prisoners he made his escape. After five 
weeks of tedious travel through woods, swamps, and over 
the mountains covered with snow, they reached the summit 
in a bewilderingsnow storm. After the storm had ceased they 
discovered a distant settlement, to which all but Brown and 
three others voted to go for food. After reaching the settle- 
ment it was found to be an unfriendly tribe of Cherokee In- 
dians, who hanged the two guides that accompanied them and 
returned the escaped soldiers back to prison. Brown and 
his companions after a weary march reached Knoxville, Tenn., 
December 4th. 

After remaining a few weeks in the hospital, he was sent 
to Washington, D. C. Here he learned that he had been 
commissioned first lieutenant and assigned to Battery G., 
of Rhode Island. As his term of enlistment had expired he 
declined to accept the promotion and was mustered out of 
service, Jan. 31, 1865. After the war Lieutenant Brown 
served two years on the police force in Providence. He then 
resumed the business of house painting, in which he is still 
(1891) engaged. He has been financially successful, having 
accumulated considerable property. He belongs to several 
orders, among them being North Star Lodge, No. 25, I. O. 
O. F., Ruth Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah, No. 8, Minnehaha 
Encampment, No. 16, and is captain of Canton Providence, 
No. 4, Patriarchs Militant. He is also a member of Providence 
Council, No. 41, order of the American Fraternal Circle, and 
Garfield Lodge, No. 7, K. of P., to Branch No. 457 Order of 
Iron Hall, and to the Order of the American Protection League, 
Rhode Island No. i, also to the New England Order of Protec- 
tion. Jan. 2, 1859, ^^ married Elizabeth Reynolds, daughter 
of William H. and Asenath (Goddard) Reynolds. Mrs. Brown 
is a woman of fine appearance and excellent culture, being 
also possessed of some wealth. Two sons have been born to 
them, of whom only one (Charles H.) is living. They have 
also an adopted daughter. 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 377 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

September 26th to December 20th, 1864. 

Battery Re-organized. — Hatcher's Run. — South Side 
Railroad. — Death of General Birney. — Presiden- 
tial Election. — Captain Rhodes on Sick Leave. — 
Lieutenant Parker in Command. 

LET us now return to what remained of Battery E, now 
temporarily commanded by Lieut. E. K. Parker. On 
the day of the departure of the three year's men, Lieu- 
tenant Parker ordered the men in camp to fall into line when 
the following assignment.s were read, viz.: Sergeant Cha dler 
assigned to First detachment, vice C. P. Williams ordered 
home ; Lance Sergeant Lewis assigned to the second in place 
of Sergeant Hargraves to be discharged ; Corporal Slocum 
to the third, and Corporal Wilder to the fourth. The last 
two named detachments were really the fifth and si.xth, but 
since the guns of the center section had been turned into 
the War Department, they had, for convenience, been oftener 
called the third and fourth. Corporal Slocum on duty at the 
fort was ordered to return to camp to take command of his 
detachment. Corporals Blair and Cunningham were ordered 
to the fort to act as gunners in place of Corporals Slocum 
and Battey. Corporal Robbins was ordered to act as first 
sergeant. 

The sergeants' mess, which by the departure of the old 
sergeants was broken up, was reformed on the 28th, and con- 
sisted of Sergeant Chandler, Acting First Sergeant Robbins, 
Sergeants Slocum, Wilder, and Lewis. Each paid into the 
mess fund five dollars. With what could be purchased with 
this money, in addition to the army rations, they were able 
to live quite sumptuously. 

On the evening of the 28th, the firing on our front was 
continuous. This was owing, doubtless, to the Tenth and 



378 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

Eighteenth corps having captured Fort Harrison, with six- 
teen guns and some prisoners, among them the commander 
of the fort. This fort was about one mile north of the 
James River, and one of the most formidable built for the 
defense of Richmond. Its capture cost our army the loss 
of 2,272 men, and the enemy a loss of 2,000 men and twenty- 
two guns. 

While the movement was in progress north of the James 
River, as usual another movement was set in motion on the 
left to aid its success, and, if possible, at the same time to 
extend our lines still further towards the South Side railroad. 
This movement was under General Warren, assisted by the 
two divisions of the Ninth corps. Besides these, all the 
corps commanders were under orders to send, if required, all 
their troops except a small force, to hold the intrenchments, 
to the aid of Warren. Our batter}-, in connection with this 
movement, was ordered to be ready to move at three a. m. on 
the morning of the 29th. We accordingly hitched up and 
so remained all that day and the next. In the meantime 
Generals Warren and Parke had reached the point of attack 
on the left. On the 30th, Warren advanced with Griffin's 
and Ayres's divisions against the enemy's-works and captured 
them with a gun and a few prisoners. Parke on the left of 
Warren was less successful, being driven back by Hill's 
troops, who captured many prisoners. The next day Mott's 
division, which held the intrenchments along the line where 
our guns were stationed, arrived on the left to reinforce our 
troops. The following morning (October 2d) Parke again 
advanced, and without resistance established a new line of 
intrenchments about a mile from the enemy. This line was 
firmly connected with the works already built across the 
Weldon Railroad. Our loss in this movement was over two 
thousand, nearly fifteen hundred of this number being taken 
prisoners. The loss of the enemy was about one thousand. 

Meade's headquarters were now moved further towards 
the left. After this, the army was comparatively quiet for the 
next four weeks. We were paid for the months of July and 
August on the 29th. 

On the 3d and 4th of October we were again hitched up, ex- 
pecting that the enemy would attempt to retake the ground 
lost on the left. 




1st Lieut. Benj. Freeborn. 



1864.] FIRST K. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



0/ 



October 5th. The limbers at the fort were withch-awn in 
the evening, taken to the camp, and parked with the cais- 
sons, the ammunition being stored in' the maoazine at the 
fort. 

October 6th. Our camp was moved about two hundred 
yards. We also received ten new horses. 

October 8th. Lieutenant F'reeborn was ordered on de- 
tached service at the Sixth corps artillery brigade as ord- 
nance ofiticer. He never returned to the battery for duty. 

Lieutenant Freeborn was born in Providence, R. L, on' the 
3d of January, 1835. His father was Jonathan Freeborn, 
who belonged to the Society of Friends, and was noted for 
his manliness and strict integrity. His mother was Lydia 
(Read) Freeborn, a lady of good culture and most excellent 
character, who died when Freeborn was young. 

Freeborn received his education at the" Frielids' School in 
Providence. After leaving school he went to Chicago and 
afterward to St. Louis, being engaged in the transportation 
business on the railroad. Returning to Rhode Island in 
1 861 we find him in December of that year a private in Bat- 
tery G, Plrst Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery. The 
following June he was promoted to sergeant, serving as such 
until March 17, 1863, when he received a commission assign- 
ing him to Battery E as second lieutenant. He commanded 
the right section in the battles of Chancellorsville and Get- 
tysburg, being slightly wounded in the latter. 

He commanded the battery while Lieutenant Bucklvn was 
absent wounded, until his return to duty on the 21st of 
August. He served in Battery E, evincing always a remark- 
able coolness and bravery, until he received a commission as 
first lieutenant dated Oct. 21, 1864, which again assigned 
him to duty in Battery G. 

After his return to Battery G he was appointed acting 
assistant-adjutant general in Sixth corps artillery brigade, 
where he served until near the close of the war, when, being 
senior ofificer, he assumed command of his battery, and was 
soon ordered to take his command to Providence, R. I., 
where they were mustered out June 24, 1865. After the close 
of the war he returned to St. Louis and resumed his former 
occupation in the railroad service. 



380 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

June 30, 1870, he married Miss Clara W. Leigh, daughter 
of Dr. Edwin and Susan S. Leigh, of St. Louis. 

On the 19th of May, 1874, while riding with a friend, he 
was thrown from his carriage, striking upon his temple, 
from the effects of which he died the following day. 

During the second week in October nothing of importance 
occurred^ except that our camp was again moved a few rods 
to the east. 

On the 14th, Second Lieut. James F. Allen received his 
discharge and left the army the next day for home. Lieu- 
tenant Allen went out with the battery as a sergeant. 

On the 6th of October, 1862, he was promoted to first ser- 
geant, remaining as such until June i, 1863, when he re- 
ceived a commission as second lieutenant. The bravery of 
Lieutenant Allen was conspicuous upon many battlefields. 
He was somewhat brusque in manner, seeming at times se- 
vere ; nevertheless, at heart he was a kind officer, as shown 
on manv occasions. 

Lieutenant Allen was born in Providence, R. I., in 1825. 
He was educated in the public schools of Providence and 
in the private schools of Providence and New York City. 
His grandfather was Dr. Samuel Allen, of Seekonk, or Re- 
hoboth, Mass. His grandfather on his mother's side was 
Colonel (afterwards General) William Barton of Providence, 
R. L, who won national fame by the capture of the British 
general, Robert Prescott, between Newport and Bristol Ferry. 

General Barton married Rhoda Carver, daughter of Gov- 
ernor Carver, of Massachusetts. Their daughter, Sarah 
Carver Barton, married Capt. Herman B. Allen, the father 
of Lieutenant Allen. In 1840 Lieutenant Allen left Provi- 
dence, R I , and, for several years, lived in New Orleans and 
Mobile. He then went to New York, sailing from there in 
March, 1849, on schooner /^w^j- L. Day for California, be- 
coming pilot of steamboat on Sacramento River. Owing to 
sickne^ss he returned to New York in 1852. In 1853 we 
find him on the steamer Central America on Lake Nicaragua, 
cruising fro.n San Carlos to Virgin Bay. After this he re- 
turned "home, and in 1856 he was married to Frances L. 
Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith, of Bridgeport, Conn., and 
Jane Henderson, of Staten Island, N. Y., by whom he has 

*After her husband's death Mrs. Freeborn established a Home School for Girls which is 
spoken of as one of the best schools of its kind in the West, which continues very successful. 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERV. 38 1 

several children. In 1859 o^' i860, he sailed from New York 
for Matanzas, Cuba, being employed by an English firm in 
the ice business. After leaving Matanzas he came to Rhode 
Island, where he enlisted in Battery E, becoming one of its 
sergeants. 

In 1868, he was marshal of New Brighton, Staten Island. 
He was deputy sheriff, deputy United States marshal for the 
southern district of New York under Generals Barlow, Har- 
low, and Sharpe. Since then he has been engaged in the 
ice busmess. 

Lieutenant Kellogg, of Captain Harn's battery, was tem- 
porarily detached for service in Battery E, and reported for 
duty the same day on w'hich Lieutenant Alien left. 

Corp. Charles W. Robbins was also promoted on same 
date to first sergeant vice James Donnelly discharged. Rob- 
bins was ordered to act as lieutenant and the writer to act as 
first sergeant. The promotion of Robbins was to date from 
October ist. At this time Lieutenant Parker was the only 
commissioned officer present for duty belonging to the bat- 
tery. It was for this reason that Lieutenant Kellogg was 
ordered to the battery, and Eirst Sergeant Robbins to act as 
lieutenant. Captain Rhodes had not returned from his leave 
of absence, and Lieutenant Bucklyn was still on detached 
service upon the staff of Colonel Tompkins, doing yeoman 
service with the Sixth corps in the Shenandoah Valley. 
Since the discharge of the old members we were as defi- 
cient in enlisted men as in officers. 

Some of the other Rhode Island batteries were nearly as 
deficient as Battery E, and there was much talk of consoli- 
dating our battery with one of the others. So imminent did 
this appear that Lieutenant Parker did not think it safe to 
await the return of Captain Rhodes before making an effort 
to prevent, if possible, that undesired result. At first he 
sought the consent of Major Hazard that the remaining vet- 
erans of the Second Rhode Island, who had asked to be de- 
tached to our battery, be permitted to do so. To this Major 
Hazard would not consent, saying that it was partially ar- 
ranged for the battery to be consolidated with one of the other 
Rhode Island batteries. Other efforts were made to obtain 
men, but all proved futile. 

"Consolidation," says Lieutenant Parker, "seemed inevi- 
table." Meeting Captain Parsons, of Battery A, First New 



382 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

Jersey, he made known to him his wants, to which Parsons 
repHed by saying that he had more men than he needed, and 
he could have all the men he (Lieutenant Parker) desired. 
Arrangements were immediately made for the transfer of 
sixty-two men. This being reported by Lieutenant Parker 
to the adjutant-general of Rhode Island, nothing more was 
heard of consolidating Battery E with another command. 

To Lieutenant Parker belongs the gratitude of Battery E 
for his persistent and successful efforts in preventing the 
battery from losing its identity. 

Captain Parson's New Jersey battery was formerly Captain 
Hexamer's, which so distinguished itself during the early 
period of the war. Thirty-three of these detached men re- 
ported to the battery on the i6th, twenty-three on the 20th, 
and six on the 22d. One-half, if not more, of these men 
were Germans, the remainder being Irish and Americans. 
Among them were many bounty jumpers and deserters un- 
der assumed names. One of them boasted of getting seven 
bounties. Soon after his arrival he was kicked by a horse in 
the knee, and sent to the hospital, where, it was reported, 
his leg was amputated, from the effects of which he died. 
Nevertheless, the larger portion were excellent men who did 
good service in the battery. 

On the 1 8th, Captain Rhodes returned from his leave of 
absence, being accompanied by Judge Duncan, of Buffalo, 
N. Y. He remained over night with the captain, who gen- 
erously allowed him to occupy his bed, while the captain 
slept on the ground, being rewarded with a severe cold. 

The 19th of October, 1864, was a sad day to the former 
veterans of the old Third corps, who now formed Mott's 
division of the Second corps. The cause of this sorrow can 
best be revealed by quoting an order of General De Trobri- 
and, who, at the time, was temporarily in co;nmand of Mott's 
division : 

" Headquarters, Third Division, ) 

Second Army Corps, Oct. iQtli, 1S64. ) 
General Orders No. 64. 

It is with profound regret that tiie Brigadier-General cointnanding has 
to convey to this commaiici the sad news of the deatii of M.nj. Gen. J). B. Bir- 
ney after a hrief iihiess in Philadelpliia. Nowhere will such a lamentable 
loss be more deeply felt than in this division, the glorious records of which 
are so much identified with the gallant services of the worthy succes- 
sor of Kearnv and Ilookei". 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 383 

He died before the end of tlie struggle in wliicli he took such a noble 
and conspicuous part, but his devotion to his countrj, his fidelity to duty, 
his gallantry in action, and his brilliant eftbrts for the triumph of the 
Union will remain among us as an example to follow, wliile his personal 
qualities will endear his memory among all those who served with him or 
under hiin. 

By order of Brigadier General De Tkobriand, 

S. P FiNKELMIER, 

Assis/dttt Ad/ It taut- General, 

No general officer in the army was more loved by the orig- 
inal, members of Battery E than General Birney, ex'cept per- 
haps General Kearny. His friendship for our battery was 
excelled by none, and had been manifested in many ways, as 
the pages of this book will testify. At the time of his death 
he commanded the Tenth corps in the Army of the James, 
then under General Butler. His health had for some time 
been broken, but he persisted inremaining with his command. 
As late as October 7th, although for several days he had been 
unable to leave his tent, on learning that a movement was 
being made by the enemy, his strong will enabled him to mount 
his horse upon which he was only able to sit until noon. 
Even then he refused to leave the field, insisting upon riding 
in an ambulance, until the enemy was beaten. He then 
returned to his headquarters where he remained until the 
morning of the loth, when, by imperative orders from General 
Butler, he left for Philadelphia by special train, arriving there 
on the afternoon of the i ith. Although the best medical tal- 
ent was called to his aid, he rapidly failed and died of mala- 
rious fever on the i8th of October, 1864. His last intelli- 
gible words, spoken about an hour before he died, were, says 
his biographer, "Keep your eyes on that flag, boys !" He 
then fell back upon his pillow from which he had risen, and 
died soon after. 

General orders were also issued announcing his death, by 
General Butler, General Terry, who succeeded him in com- 
mand of the Tenth corps, and by Col. J. W. Moore who com- 
manded Birney's sharpshooters (Two Hundred and Third 
Pennsylvania Volunteers). Editorial notices of his death 
appeared in all the leading journals of the North. The City 
Council of Philadelphia passed resolutions of sympathy and 
tendered the use of Independence Hall so that his remains 



384 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct, 



mio-ht lie in state. His funeral was one of the most impres- 
siv? ever witnessed in Philadelphia. During the funeral many 
houses were draped in mourning and flags were at halt mast 
His remains were followed to the cemetery by a ong line ot 
military and civic bodies, in which were many of his old com- 
rades-in-arms including General Sickles, and many officers 
from the armies of the Potomac and the James 

General Birnev was born in Alabama, May 29, 1825. 
His father was the Hon. James G. Birney, who was the can- 
didate of the Liberty party for president in 1844. General 
Birney studied law with his father, after which he practised 
in Philadelphia until the beginning of the war. He then 
raised the Twenty-third Pensylvania Regiment, and with it 
reported for duty to the Army of the Potomac. His sub.se- 
Quent history is well known to the readers of military history, 
October 19th was also the day on which the Army of the 
Shenendoah Valley was surprised and flanked by the rebels 
under General Earlv, who routed and put to flight a portion 
of Sheridan's command which was temporarily commanded 
bv General Wright while Sheridan was absent in Washing- 
ton Sheridan on his return had reached Winchester, when 
hearing of the disaster which had befallen his army, he made 
his famous historic ride reaching his shattered troops at the 
front, who had already checked the exultant foe Here his 
presence so inspired the returning confidence of his troops 
that before night he not only routed the enemy and cap- 
tured twenty-four guns, but re-took his own eighteen guns 
which were captured in the morning. It was in this bat le 
that Lieutenant Bucklyn so distinguished himself that he 
was made brevet captain on the field. 

After the return of Captain Rhodes the list of promotions 
were completed, and were read in line on the 20th Lance 
Sero-eant George Lewis was promoted to sergeant to date trom 
October 4th, and was assigned to the second piece, with in- 
structions to continue actingas first sergeant. Corporals John 
Slocum Otto Wilder, and John Cunningham, were promoted 
to sero-eants, also to date from October 4th. First sergeant 
Charles W Robbins and Sergt. Edward A. Chandler vyere 
ordered to continue acting as lieutenants. Privates Edson 
S White Philip A Dexter, Jeremiah Bucklin, Charles, b. 
Huling, Bradbury Boggs, Samuel Havens, Michael Pender- 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 385 

grast, and Emory W. Marble, were promoted to corporals. 
The latter not wishing to serve, was, at his own request, the 
next day reduced to the ranks, and William Cook, one of the 
detached men from the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery 
was promoted in his place. Cook and Pendergrast were, not 
long afterwards, for some misdemeanor, reduced to the ranks. 
Chandler Lindsey who had been lance corporal since April 
9th, was promoted on the 24th. to corporal. 

General Grant was now ready for another move, as an 
extract from an order written to General Meade on the 24th 
will show, " Make your preparations to march out at an early 
hour on the 27th to gain possession of the South Side Rail- 
road, and to hold it and to fortify back to your present left." 
In connection with this, Butler was also instructed to make 
a demonstration on the north side of the James River. 

I will give no description of the battle, save to add 
that the Second and Fifth corps did most of the fighting, 
Hancock losing nearly 1,500 men, Warren less than 300, for 
which no adequate results were gained. In this movement 
Mott's division was withdrawn from the lines occupied by us, 
being relieved by General Miles's division which alone with 
the artillery held the lines from the Appomattox River to 
half way between the Jerusalem Plank Road and the Weldon 
Railroad. This as will be plainly seen, left only a skirmish- 
ing line to protect the artillery and hold the lines along a 
distance of over six miles. 

Fearing that the enemy would attack us while the troops 
withdrawn were engaged on the left, an order was given 
to have all the caissons, limbers, forage teams, etc., sent 
back to the rear breastworks near City Point. In connection 
with this movement Captain Rhodes received orders on the 
evening of the 25th that one of his guns would be placed on 
the right of the fort, near the railroad, under command of 
Captain Parsons, and that three guns of Parsons were to 
take position in Fort Rice. One regiment of infantry and 
another battery were placed in our fort to remain during the 
expected danger. These were all under the command of 
Captain Rhodes, who received instructions "to hold the fort 
to the last, and be taken prisoner or killed if necessary." 

This clearly revealed our danger, or such desperate orders 
would not have been given. Fifty more rounds of ammunition 
25 



386 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., 

to each guns were ordered to the fort and placed in the 
magazine. Captain Rhodes had received orders to be ready 
to move his caissons as above indicated at ten a. m., on 
the 26th, but it was four p, m. before we moved. First Ser- 
geant Robbins was in command of our caissons, that of the 
brigade was under Lieutenant Perrigo, of Captain Dorsey's 
First Ohio Battery. It was not until long after dark that 
we arrived in rear of the breastworks. It rained at inter- 
vals and the darkeness hid everything from our view, and 
it was only when near some camp-fire that one could tell 
who belonged to the infantry and who to the gunless artil- 
lery. Rumors of every description were circulated. That 
which most disturbed us, was a report that we were to be 
supplied with muskets, and were to hold the lines should 
the enemy break through and reach our breastworks. Think 
of a line of breastworks being defended by caissons, limbers, 
battery wagons, forges, army wagons, ambulances, spare hor- 
ses, mule teams, and worse than all artillerymen without 
arms, many of whom perhaps had never loaded or fired a 
musket, and we have a picture of what was stationed behind 
the works at City Point. 

During the 27th, while Warren and Hancock were fighting 
on the left at Hatcher Run, we remained here awaiting 
events. At Fort Rice all was quiet until about nine r. m., 
when the enemy made an attack on our lines in front of our 
guns. Captain Rhodes promptly responded with his guns 
and fired until ordered to cease by General Miles. After 
having stopped firing his own guns. Captain Rhodes says, 
" I sent word to Parsons's guns (those in Fort Rice) and from 
his reply he did not seem to know he was under my com- 
mand. I sent to see him again about some orders, but he 
had gone to his own fort. I then put Lieutenant Parker in 
command of Parsons's guns. Spon after Parsons returned 
and said he was in command of his own battery. I then 
went and asked him if he did not understand that I com- 
manded his guns. He replied, " No, Captain Harn told him 
he would command his own guns while there. " I told him 
I was in command and ordered his guns to stop firing. He 
again said he should command his own guns. I then sent 
an orderly to Captain Harn for instructions, and Captain 
Harn sent to mc a written order to the effect that I was 



1S64.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 387 

in command of all the artillery in Fort Rice. I showed this 
to Captain Parsons and he became angry and said then that 
I had nothing for him to do here. I said, "No, Sir!" He 
then remarked that he would return to his fort, and did so. 
Soon after the battle of words with Captain Parsons the 
enemy again opened upon our lines and for about an hour 
the roar of artillery and the rattle of musketry was conti- 
nuous. In this attack our troops made a charge and captured 
the fort that was blown up in July by Burnside, capturing 
two colonels and twenty-two men. One brave but reckless 
colonel refusing to surrender was killed. Again in this 
action Captain Parsons disputed the authority of Lieutenant 
Parker who had been sent by Captain Rhodes to order the 
battery not to fire until receiving orders from him. The 
trouble was not settled until the next day, when Captain 
Harn, acting chief of the artillery, called the parties together, 
when the matter in dispute was talked over. After hearing 
the statements of both sides. Captain Harn decided that 
Captain Parsons was wholly in fault. In this affair. Captain 
Parsons, although an excellent officer made a mistake in 
allowing his temper to control his usual good judgment. 

During the 27th Sergeant Slocum, with four men, was 
detailed for permanent guard to the headquarters of the Sixth 
corps artillery brigade. The men were Robert Snow, Ru- 
dolph Juker, Joseph Miller, and Louis J. Morgan. These men 
remained, until they returned to their battery in May, but 
Sergeant Slocum returned to his battery November 8th. 

The caissons remained in the rear breastworks until the 
29th when they were returned to their old camp, which 
was found somewhat damaged. Sergt. Edward A. Chandler 
found awaiting his return a commission as second lieutenant, 
bearing the date of October 25th, and assigning him to bat- 
tery E. This was not entirely unexpected, as a short time 
before Captain Rhodes had recommended him for that 
position. 

October 30th, Captain Rhodes sent Lieutenant Parker to 
City Point after two new guns to replace those turned in on 
the 17th of May. Having obtained them, he telegraphed 
back to camp for men and horses to bring them to camp. 
Sergeant Cunningham was sent in charge of these, returning 
with them the next day. These guns remained in camp until 



388 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., 

the 4th of November, when they were sent to Fort Rice, 
relieving two of those belonging to Captain Parsons. 

October 31st, the battery was inspected and mustered 
for two months' pay by Captain Dorsey, of the Fu'st Ohio 

Battery. ^ , . ^i ^ 

November ist. Nothing disturbed us to-day, except that 
the dead, killed on the night of the 27th still lay unburied m 
front of our fort. Soon after they were removed under a 
flag of truce. . 

A diary record of November 2d, says : " Corp. Jeremiah 
Bucklin, was thrown from and kicked by a horse, and his 
ankle dislocated. He was sent to City Point Hospital. But 
Bucklin says he was sent to the hospital on account of an 
accidental pistol wound in the foot. 

On November 4th, Lieutenant Chandler was mustered 
and ordered to Fort Rice, relieving Lieutenant Parker, who 
was ordered to report for duty at the camp, a much plcsanter 
place and less exposed to danger. Being now supplied with 
a full battery it became necessary to rearrange the non-com- 
missioned officers. This was done on the 5th of Nov^ember. 
Sergeant Slocum was assigned to the second detachnient ; 
Sergeant Lewis, to the first ; Sergeant Wilder, to the fifth ; 
Sergeant Cunningham, to the sixth. Corp. William S. Blair 
was promoted to a sergeant and assigned to the third ; Corp. 
Philip A Dexter was assigned temporarily to the fourth. 
The latter assignment was due to Sergeant Humphreys 
absence in the hospital. On the following day private Uriah 
Griffin was promoted to lance corporal. Griffin was detached 
from a Pennsylvania regiment, but had re-enlisted into Bat- 
tery E, Nov. 23, 1863. After the departure of Jhe Y^rce 
years' men John E. Johnston became farrier, and Malachi 
Gunning, blacksmith, assisted by Richard Russell. 

About midnight on the 5th, the enemy chitrged on our 
lines and captured four of our picket posts. This brought 
on a sharp engagement between Hampton Legion o boutli 
Carolina Troops, and MacAlisler's brigade of Mott s division. 
Battery E joined in the attack and for a short time the lines 
, were lighted up by the flashing fires of the batteries engaged, 
and the mortars streaked the heavens with a seeming shower 
of falling stars. The Legion were promptly repulsed with a 
loss of over one hundred and fifty, one half of the number 




LieLit. Edward A. Chandler. 



1864] FIRST K. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 389 

beinrr prisoners. An extract from Captain Rhodes's diary of 
November 6th, says : " I was aroused at 7 a. m. by a great 
concussion in the fort from mortar shells. One came very 
near the cabin and exploded throwing dirt all over the 
shanty. I got up in haste and going out found the cannon- 
eers all at their guns. I ordered the guns to be loaded with 
solid shot and after firing twelve rounds I ceased firing." 
Soon after the enemy also ceased firing. 

Edward McCaffery died of chronic diarrhoea at City Point 
Hospital on the 28th of October. He was an excellent soldier. 

November 8th being election day and we being allowed to 
vote by a special law enacted by the Legislature of Rhode 
Island, we proceeded to do so. It was only the men of Rhode 
Island who would have been qualified to vote had they been 
at home that were allowed to cast a ballot. As only a few 
of that class remained in the battery the vote was necessarily 
small, numbering only 27, of which number 15 were cast for 
Lincoln, and 12 for McClellan. The votes were witnessed by 
Lieutenant Chandler and Sergeant Lewis, sealed in their 
presence, and, as the law required, they were sent to Rhode 
Island to be counted. The party vote was much more 
equal in our battery than it was in the whole army, in that 
Lincoln had over three to one for McClellan. The soldier 
vote in the state where they could be distinguished, was, for 
Lincoln, 119,754, for McClellan, 34.291. 

It mav as well be said here that the season for active oper- 
ations having passed, the duties of the battery were hence- 
forth somewhat monotonous, being confined almost exclu- 
sively to services in the intrenchmcnts. 

It was now apparent that no more general movements 
would take place until after the winter had passed ; for this 
reason the troops had begun to build winter quarters. The 
quarters of Battery E, which were built of small logs were 
commenced on the loth. They were located a few rods to 
the south of our summer quarters and faced towards the 
north, the cracks between the logs were plastered, as usual, 
with mud. The tents were covered with canvas, and, with 
the addition of fire-places, were made quite comfortable even 
in the coldest weather. 

November nth. Three recruits arrived from Rhode 
Island, whose names were Albert O. Bates, Charles E. 



390 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

Movvry and Herbert A. Ballou. They came from the town of 
Scituate. The former although very young, proved to be 
a most excellent soldier, and, in after years, became a well 
known and highly esteemed citizen of the town of Johnston, 
R. I. Ballou was only fifteen years old, and, at the request 
of his father, he was discharged Jan. 14, 1865, by the war 
department. Mowry proved to be a good soldier, also, and 
remained until the close of the war. Second Lieut. Hezekiah 
Potter, was mustered and reported for duty on the nth. 
Potter came from Battery H being commissioned from 
quartermaster-sergeant, Oct. 21, 1864. He filled the place 
made vacant by the assignment of Lieutenant Freeborn to 
Battery G. 

November 13th and 14th, Captain Harn inspected both the 
camp and the fort. After the inspection Captain Harn com- 
plimented Captain Rhodes upon the very excellent condition 
of his entire battery. 

On the 15th and i6th, working parties of the enemy were 
shelled by our battery. This brought on quite a spirited 
artillery duel for a short time, resulting only in a waste of 
powder. 

On the 17th, Captain Rhodes received a notice, that he 
was appointed to act as president of a court-martial to try a 
man for striking a sergeant in Captain Harn's battery. The 
court convened at Captain Rhodes's quarters on the 21st. The 
members of the court-martial were Captain Rhodes, presi- 
dent ; Captain Parsons, Lieutenant McLain, Lieutenant 
Parker, Lieutenant Chandler, and Lieutenant Perrigo. After 
hearing the evidence the man was pronounced guilty and sen- 
tenced to forfeit one half of two month's' pay and to do police 
duty for a month. 

On the 22d, Lieutenant Parker was granted a leave of 
absence of fifteen days. 

November 24th'. This was the ever welcome Thanksgiving, 
and to none was it more welcome than to the soldiers compos- 
ing the Armies of the Potomac and the James. Cargoes of 
provisions of every kind were received from the different 
states. Every soldier, doubtless, had his fill of these 
good things sent by generous donors. Fifteen turkeys out 
of this mountain of supplies were given to Battery E, one of 



1864.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 39I 

them going to the sergeants' mess, the remainder to the 
Company. It was a day long to be remembered. 

On the day following Thanksgiving it was the writer's turn 
to command a section drill on an open field in full view of 
the enemy. It was but a short time before the enemy's guns 
began to take part in the manoeuvres, and I am frank to say 
that the bursting shells upon the field had more to do with 
the caisson's movements than the sergeant in command. But 
happily the officer of the day saw the danger, and ordered the 
recall to be sounded, much to the joy of the sergeant and 
drivers. 

November 25th. Corporal Pendergrast was reduced for 
absence without leave, and Lance Corporal Griffin was pro- 
moted to fill the vacancy. Private Richard T. Beard was pro- 
moted to lance corporal. Beard was a man at least fifty years 
old. He had been in the regular army over thirty years and 
was wearing six service stripes. 

November 26th. General Humphreys took command of 
the Second corps, succeeding General Hancock. "General 
Hancook," says his successor, "was called to Washington by 
the secretary of war to organize the new P'irst army corps, 
which, it was expected would be ready to take the field in the 
spring." 

November 28th. Fifteen new horses and harnesses for 
the new center section, were drawn. Our battery was now 
again complete. The Seventeenth Maine, which for several 
weeks had supported our battery in Fort Rice, was relieved 
by the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts. 

December ist. Charles H. Bogman, the company clerk, 
received his discharge and started for home, his term of 
service having expired. He had served as a private in Com- 
pany D, First Rhode Island Regiment. Afterwards he enlisted 
in Battery G of our regiment, where for a while he was ser- 
geant. Being transferred to Battery E he soon after the battle 
of Gettysburg became company clerk, in which capacity he 
served until mustered out. After the war he studied medi- 
cine, and is now (1891) practicing his profession in Zanes- 
ville, Ohio. 

Dr. Wolfe, of the brigade headquarters, and Dr. Coleman 
of the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, called to see Captain 
Rhodes who was suffering quite severely from inflammation 



392 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 

of the bowels and they advised him strongly to go home on 
a leave of absence, Dr. Wolfe stating that his life greatly 
depended upon his so doing. Captain Harn, and, in fact, all 
his friends advised him to follow the counsel of his physicians. 
After due consideration he consented, and the request was 
sent to headquarters. After a delay of two days a leave of 
twenty days' absence was granted, but owing to the absence 
of Lieutenant Parker and feeling slightly better he concluded 
to postpone his departure a few days. In the meantime 
Captain Rhodes sent an application to headquarters for the 
return of Lieutenant Bucklyn* to duty in the battery, and also 
a recommendation to Governor Smith for the promotion 
of Sergeant Lewis to a lieutenant. The withdrawal of the 
Second corps troops on the 28th of November, left the artil- 
lery under the command of Colonel Tidball, chief of the Ninth 
corps artillery. He inspected the lines on the ist of Decem- 
ber, after which he complimented Captain Rhodes on having 
his battery in better order than any other under his command. 

December 3d. The Twenty-fourth corpswas organized from 
the white troops of the Army of the James, and the Twenty- 
fifth corps from the colored troops of that army, to which 
Ferrero's colored division of the Ninth corps was added. 
General Ord was in command of the Twenty-fourth corps, 
and General Weitzel of the Twenty-fifth. The Tenth and 
Eighteenth corps were discontinued. 

The campaign in the Shenandoah Valley having been 
closed by the defeat of Early at Cedar Creek, the Sixth corps 
was ordered to return to the Army of the Potomac where it 
began arriving on the 4th of December, followed by the other 
divisions before the i6th. The Sixth corps upon its arrival 
was placed in position at the south of Petersburg across the 
Weldon Railroad. 

About the ist of December the Second corps was moved 
to the extreme left, its left resting near Hatcher's Run. The 
Ninth corps was moved to the right of the line, its right rest- 
ing on the Appomattox River, with its left extended beyond 
Fort Sedgwick. 

Pennsylvania had enlisted quite a number of regiments to 
serve for one year, which arrived about the first of December. 
Six of these regiments were organized into the third division 
under command of General Hartranft, and assigned to the 

* Iliid IJeutc-nant Bucklyn letunieil ho would Iklvc Iiecu in coniiiiaiul of the battery, and 
prohatily its captain after Captain llliodes resii^ned. 



1864] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 393 

Ninth corps, taking the place of the third division of colored 
troops taken from that corps. 

The first week in December was quite a busy one for the 
battery. There was more than the usual amount of firing by 
the rebels upon Fort Rice. That on the 3d instant being 
quite severe frem the enemy's mortars, whose shots damaged 
the fort quite materially. The embrasure in front of the 
second piece was badly shattered. 

The Sunday inspection of December 4th, owing to the con- 
tinued illness of Captain Rhodes, was made by Lieutenant 
Potter. Other inspections were had, one of them being by 
Lieutenant P'reeborn, now of Battery G, who had been ap- 
pointed inspector-general of the artillery brigade. His re- 
port confirmed that of Colonel Tidball made a few days before. 
During the week a fence was built around the camp, and it 
was otherwise improved. To the sergeant's tent was added 
a cooking and dining apartment, and private Robert Weidle 
was detailed to act as cook for its mess. The officers' quar- 
ters consisted of a wall tent and a nice lodge made of timber 
hewed and planed on three sides, and laid closely together 
one upon another, being firmly held in place by dove-tailed 
corners. The roof was made of nice canvas. The camp was 
considered by all to be a model arrangement, besides being 
pleasant and healthy. But no sooner had we prepared these 
agreeable winter quarters than signs of disappointment began 
to appear. As our corps had returned from the Shenandoah 
Valley and taken a position some distance to our left it was 
feared that we should be ordered to join them. These fears 
were increased by orders received on the 7th to draw 
eight days' rations. During the 6th and the 7th Captain 
Rhodes had become so much worse, he concluded it would 
not be safe for him to wait longer for the return of Lieuten- 
ant Parker. He therefore decided to start on the morning 
of the 8th. 

When that time arrived he was so weak it was with diffi- 
culty that he could dress himself. Captain Harn kindly 
offered Captain Rhodes the use of the headquarters wagon 
to take him to the railroad station. This offer he gratefully 
accepted. He was accompanied by Quartermaster Ephraim 
C. Morse, of the Seventh Rhode Island Regiment. On arriv- 
ing at City Point the physician there insisted upon his stop- 



394 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 



ping at the hospital, but he finally yielded to the persuasion 
of Captain Rhodes and allowed him to proceed. He was 
assisted on his way home by his friend Morse, reaching Provi- 
dence on the evening of the 9th nearly exhausted, Lieu- 
tenant Parker not having returned from his leave of absence 
the command of the battery fell upon Lieutenant Potter. 

During the 8th orders came to report our caissons with 
horses, to Lieutenant McLain of the Third New York Bat- 
tery. They were so reported by Sergeant Lewis. Accom- 
panying them were Sergeants Cunningham and Slocum, 
and Corporal Austin. These, with the exception of Ser- 
geant Slocum, who was left in command of the line of cais- 
sons, were ordered to return to their camp. 

The day was cold and bleak, and so continued during the 
next dav, followed by a night of snow and sleet which cov- 
ered the ground with ice. The suffering of the men and 
horses was severe as they had no shelter from the storm. It 
was not until the afternoon of the lOth that the caissons 
were ordered back to camp. It was soon learned that the 
caissons in connection with the guns of the Third New York 
Battery had been held in readiness to cooperate with the P ifth 
Corps and Mott's division, which had marched on the 6th to 
destroy the Weldon Railroad beyond Nottoway court-house, 
and which they succeeded in doing as far as Hickford's. 
This increased the difficulty of the rebels in getting their 
supplies from the Weldon Railroad, having now to haul them 
more than twenty miles further. 

Lieutenant Parker returned on the loth and assumed com- 
mand. The next day he ordered the commencement of a 
barn for the horses. As poles and brush had to be cut and 
drawn from the woods some distance away, it was not until 
the 1 6th that the barn was finished. 

On the 15th our battery fired a number of shots, being re- 
plied to by the enemy's guns. 

The next day several shots of the enemy struck near our 
camp, doing no harm. After the Sunday morning inspec- 
tion on the 1 8th we were surprised to hear the firing of artil- 
lery in our rear, which proved to be a salute in honor of the 
victory of General Thomas over the rebel General Hood, near 
Na.shville, Tenn., at which time the enemy lost 15,000 men. 
This was very satisfactory news, but the enjoyment of the 




Ezra K. Parker, 1st Lieut. Commanding. 



1864.J FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



395 



Victory was very much lessened by an order just received 
instructing us to take our guns from the fort and park them' 
at the camp. Although not wholly unexpected it was an 
unwelcome order. We realized that our work in preparing 
our beautiful winter quarters was labor lost. 

The next day, as ordered, the guns were taken to camp, 
with instructions to be ready to move early the followino- 
rnorning. VVhile moving out the enemy fired a few shots at 
the battery, but, doing us no harm,— it answered, however as 
a parting salute from the enemy. 



.^6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

December 20, 1864, to March 26, 1865. 

FoKT Wadsworth— Winter Quarters— Weldon Rail 

ROAD— Lieutenant Bucklyn and Captain 

Rhodes Resign. 

AT 8 A. M., on the 20th, we broke camp and started for 
Fort Wadsworth, four miles south of Petersburg. 
The fort was built a few feet west of the Weldon Rail- 
road, and half a mile north of the Globe, or Yellow Tavern. 
It was one of the strongest works along the hne of our in- 
trenchments. Within its enclosure was a large bomb-proof 
and a well-filled magazine. We arrived near the fort about 
noon and found it still occupied by the Fifth Battery (D) ot 
the regular army, which did not move out until the 22d. 
In the' meantime we pitched our shelter tents upon a side 
hill. The night after our arrival a severe rain storm set in, 
and soon the'' ground was ankle deep with mud, and small 
streams of water coursed through our tents. In this condi- 
tion we passed the night as best we could. The next day 
the storm was no less severe, but most of the men had found 
shelter in the bomb-proof, and were comparatively com- 
fortable. \\T \ ^ 
On the 22d we took possession of the fort. We had 
now to go to work and build over again our winter quarters. 
There was one lucky man who escaped that unpleasant duty, 
Martin Harvey, whose term of service expired on the 22d. 
Harvey was one of the bravest of soldiers, and had more 
than once distinguished himself in battle, references to which 
have before been made. 

One recruit, John B. Dryley, arrived. Three months 
later he deserted. 



1865.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 397 

December 23d. As our camp was now closely connected 
with the fort, Robbins resumed his duties as first sergeant, 
relieving Sergeant Lewis, who again took charge of the First 
detachment, relieving Corporal Griffin. Sergeant Blair was 
sent with a detail into the woods to cut logs for tents, and 
Sergeant Wilder with another detail to the old camp after a 
portion of our old quarters, in securing which they were in 
part successful, but not without having quite a skirmish with 
some of the men in the Ninth Massachusetts Battery, who 
were occupying our old quarters. Had our men been of equal 
force there might have been more serious trouble, for both par- 
ties doubtless believed they had a claim upon the quarters. 
However, no blood was spilt, but one of our men returned 
with a blackened eye. The next day Lieutenant Parker sent 
a formal request for the desired articles, which were 
promptly delivered. 

On Christmas day all the sergeants and the cannoneers 
were sent some two miles to cut logs for their quarters — 
quite a contrast to eating Christmas turkey. These logs 
were from eight to ten inches in diameter, and were split in 
two, after which they were hauled to camp. In so doing 
we used the limbers with the ammunition chests removed. 
As soon as a sufficient quantity of material had reached 
camp, a portion of the men began the construction of their 
quarters. The split logs were laid edgewise to the height of 
about four feet, and were fastened together by being notched 
at the corners. The ends were built to the peak with logs, 
upon which rested a ridge-pole. The roof, as usual, was 
made of canvas. A suitable fire-place was built, with a 
chimney lined with mud. These quarters were from ten to 
twelve feet square, with a double row of bunks around the 
sides. The sergeants' quarters were somewhat larger 
and had only one row of bunks, which were thickly covered 
with green boughs, upon which blankets were spread, mak- 
ing a very comfortable bed. The quarters for the men were 
finished about the 29th of December, those of the sergeants 
and quartermaster a few days later. 

On the 30th, Sergeant Cunningham, with six men, was de- 
tailed to go to the woods and split out shingles for the right 
section of our barn. 



39^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Jan., 

December 3 1 st. The battery was mustered for two months* 
pay. The day opened with rain and snow, but in the even- 
ing the storm ceased, and at midnight the sky was clear, 
and the new year opened with starlight greetings. 

Soon after the beginning of the new year the rebels in our 
front charged upon our picket line and captured some of our 
pickets. This caused, for a little time, considerable excite- 
ment in our camp. The picket line was nearly a mile to the 
front of our fort. Between it and Fort Wadsworth the 
land was low and marshy, and thickly covered with brush, 
so much so that it was deemed unnecessary for the can- 
noneers to remain at their guns in the fort. When this 
charge was made, the cannoneers, who were asleep in 
their quarters, were unable at first to find their clothes, 
and they had to go to their guns only half dressed. When 
they reached the fort the firing had ceased. Ever after that 
the cannoneers laid their clothes where they could readily 
be found. 

The officers' quarters were the same as at the camp in rear 
of Fort Rice. The camp here was not as pleasant as the one we 
had just left, but as it was immediately in rear of Fort Wads- 
worth, in which our guns were in position it was upon the 
whole more convenient. Furthermore, the enemy's lines on 
our immediate front, upon which forts Lee and Walker and 
battery Pegram were built, were more than two miles distant. 
Occasionally the long range guns in those forts fired their 
shots across our camp, but otherwise we had but little to 
molest us. 

The right section of our barn was begun on the 2d of Jan- 
uary, 1865. That being finished, the other sections followed, 
the one for the spare horses being the last to be erected. It 
was not until the 22d that the barn was entirely completed. 
The structure was firmly built. Strong, heavy crutches were 
set in the ground for posts, upon them rested the girders and 
plates, securely fastened with pins. These supported the 
roof which was covered with shingles. Lengthwise through 
the center of the barn a trough dug out of some large logs 
was strongly fastened. Along the edges of this trough were 
laid some iron rails taken from the track of the Weldon Rail- 
road, and through the top of the troughs under the rails holes 
were bored, into which the halter straps were tied. The north 



i86s.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 399 

side and the two ends of the barn, were thatched with cedar 
boughs. This, so far as the writer knows, was the best con- 
structed barn in the Army of the Potomac, and although there 
was fault finding among some of the men about the amount 
of labor bestowed upon it, it was none the less creditable to 
the heart of Lieutenant Parker, who ordered its construction. 

After the army had gone into winter quarters the granting 
of furloughs was resumed. The first to receive them in 
Battery E, were Sergeant Cunningham, Corporal Beard 
and private Kinder on the nth of January. They were 
selected from the right section as their section of the barn 
had been completed. The shingles were split out under 
charge of Corporal Austin, whose previous experience in 
Maine had qualified him for that work. The necessary quan- 
tity being completed they returned to camp on the i8th. On 
the 20th First Sergeant Robbins again begun acting as chief 
of the center section and Sergeant Lewis again as first ser- 
geant. On the 23d and 24th heavy firing was in progress on 
the right. 

The barn and camp being completed on the 22d we had 
occasionally a field drill, but the men were drilled almost daily 
at the manual of the piece in the fort. The sergeants 
began to recite lessons in artillery tactics before leaving 
Fort Rice, and were now ordered to resume their recitations. 
These exercises, although useful, excited but little interest. 

On the 26th of January we were ordered by Lieutenant 
Parker to begin company cooking, taking for that purpose 
the guard-house, a new building being erected for the guard. 
Several times company cooking had been tried, but it always 
fell into disuse. This time it came to stay. The men de- 
tailed as cooks were Charles James, Marshall D. Watson, 
and James O'Brien. 

Sergeant Cunningham and his comrades returned from their 
furloughs on the 29th. The next fortunate trio were Ser- 
geants Slocum and Lewis, and Artificer Wightman. Slocum's 
furlough was for twenty days, the others for fifteen days. They 
started at sunrise on the 31st. Sergeant Lewis returned to 
camp on the 15th of February, Wightman on the i6th, and 
Sergeant Slocum not until the 20th. During the absence 
of Sergeant Lewis Sergeant Cunningham acted as first 
sergeant. While they were absent nothing of importance 



400 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Jan, 

occurred in the battery, except that Corporal Samuel W. 
Austin was promoted to a lance sergeant and first sergeant. 
Robbins was discharged on the 7th of February. The en- 
listment of First Sergt. Charles W. Robbins was cre- 
dited to the town of Foster, R. I. Of his antecedents the 
writer knows nothing. He enlisted Feb. 8, '1862, and 
joined the battery on the 28th, at Artillery Camp near Fort 
Lyon, Va. He was promoted to corporal Feb. 8, 1864, 
and to acting first sergeant September 28th, and promoted 
to that rank October 15th to date from Oct. i, 1864. 
Robbins sustained an excellent character. He was ex- 
tremely neat in his person and dress, and in battle he bore 
the part of a brave and true soldier. Having never seen or 
heard any thing about him since the war I am unable to give 
more of his history. 

After the destruction of the Weldon Railroad to Hickford 
early in December, the rebels were obliged to haul their 
supplies from that place up the Meherrin River to the Boyd- 
ton plank road, and then over that road to Petersburg, a dis- 
tance of forty miles. In order to break up that route of sup- 
plies General Gregg was ordered on the 5th of February 
to take his division of cavalry by way of Reams's Station to 
Dinwiddie Court-House and endeavour to capture the supply 
trains moving over that road. General Warren was ordered 
to cross Hatcher's Run south of the Vaughan road and post 
his command on that road. General Humphreys was ordered 
to cross Hatcher's Run at its junction with the Vaughan 
road, then move a portion of his Second corps to Armstrong's 
Mill and hold those two positions. About five p. m. Hum- 
phreys' troops near the Armstrong Mill \vere attacked by a 
portion of Hill's and Gordon's corps, but the enemy was soon 
driven back to his intrenchments. During the night Hart- 
ranft's division of the Ninth corps and Wheaton's of the Si.xth 
corps arrived and were posted on Humphreys's right. Warren 
and Gregg in the meantime had moved back and formed to 
the left of the Second corps, Gregg being on the extreme 
left at Gravelly Run to guard that flank. During the after- 
noon of the 6th, Gregg was attacked by Pcgram's division, 
but with Griffin's support, Pegram's troops were driven back. 
Crawford's division also became engaged with a portion of the 
.same division, drove it back to Dabney's Mill, where the enemy 



i865.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 4OI 

received support, and in turn Crawford's left was driven back. 
Three brigades now came to Crawford's support ; at the same 
time the enemy was reinforced by Mahone's division. The 
whole line now advanced and for a short time the battle was 
severe, but a portion of Warren's troops being new, they were 
not able to cope with Lee's veterans, and they fell back in 
confusion. General Wheaton, of the Sixth corps, sent a bri- 
gade to support Warren and the enemy was checked. Our 
loss was about 1,500; that of the enemy was about 1,200, 
among their killed being General Pegram. Our line was now 
extended to Hatcher's Run at its junction with the Vaughan 
roads. The Second corps held the new lines on the left, the 
Sixth corps joining their right near the signal tower. The 
Fifth corps was massed in rear of the left. 

Sergt. George Humphrey, who had been absent in the hospi- 
tal since being severely wounded at Cold Harbor, arrived in 
camp about sunset on the 20th. The battery being deficient 
in officers he was ordered the next day to act as lieutenant. 

It was hoped by the veterans in the battery that on the 
return of the Sixth corps from the Shenandoah Valley, Lieu- 
tenant Bucklyn would, as Captain Rhodes had previously 
requested, be returned to duty in the battery, but it was other- 
wise ordered, and his old comrades were doomed to disap- 
pointment. Bucklyn soon after rejoining the Army of the 
Potomac, owing to the severe sickness of his wife, resigned 
on the 5th of February and returned home. The good record 
of Lieutenant Bucklyn as a former commander and his dis- 
tinguished bravery which he had shown upon many battle- 
fields deserves more than a passing notice. John Knight 
Bucklyn was born in the town of Foster, R. I., March 15, 
1834. His father was Jeremiah P. Bucklyn, an esteemed 
citizen of his town. His mother was Abby Potter, a woman 
of good ability and most excellent character. His grand- 
father was a soldier of the Revolution. His father, who in- 
herited the military spirit of his parent, was at one time a 
captain in the Rhode Island militia. John K., in his younger 
yeans, attended the public schools of Providence and War- 
wick, where he was a promisng pupil. After leaving 
school he learned the machinist's trade, in which he accu- 
mulated some property. His active spirit not finding full 
26 



402 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Feb., 

scope in that limited but useful field of labor, in the spring 
of 1854 he entered the academy at East Greenwich, re- 
maining there until winter. He then taught school, and in 
the spring of 1856 he again entered the academy and con- 
tinued his studies until late in the year, when he entered the 
Smithville Seminary, from which he graduated in 1857, tak- 
ing the valedictory of his class. The same year he entered 
Brown University, from which he graduated with honor in 
1 86 1, receiving the degree of A. M. After his graduation 
he became a teacher at a salary of about one thousand dollars 
per year. Feeling that the urgent call of the government 
for volunteers demanded his services, he threw up his posi- 
tion as teacher. Although offered a commission he pre- 
ferred to earn his promotion, and declined it, and enlisted 
about the first of September, 1861, as a private in Battery E, 
First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery. Upon re- 
porting for duty he was ordered to act as quartermaster- 
sergeant. Upon the appointment of the non-commissioned 
officers of the company he received a warrant to continue in 
that capacity. On the first of March, 1862, he was promoted 
to second lieutenant, and Dec. 31, 1862, to first lieutenant. 
Upon Lieutenant Jastram's appointment as acting assist- 
ant adjutant-general on Randolph's staff on the 15th of May, 
1863, Lieutenant Bucklyn became commander of the battery. 
His distinguished ability and bravery as a commander having 
already been recorded need not be repeated here. He com- 
manded the battery until being relieved by Captain Rhodes 
on the 26th of April, 1864. Lieutenant Bucklyn, early in 
May, 1864, was appointed upon the staff of Colonel Tomp- 
kins, who commanded the .Sixth corps artillery, where he 
distinguished himself in the battles of Grant's campaign and 
in the battles in which the Sixth corps was engaged under 
Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. The endorsements of 
his superior officers for promotions are a credit to him, and 
showed that those most competent to judge were desirous 
that he should be promoted, as he was, to brevet captain on 
the 19th of October, 1864, "For gallant and meritorious and 
ofttimcs distinguished service before Richmond and in the 
Shenandoah Valley." Some of the testimonials read as 
follows, viz. : 



iS65.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 403 

Headquarters First Rhode Island Light Artillery, ) 
December ytli, 1864. J 

Sir, Hi's Excellejicy, James. Y. Smith, Governor of Rhode Island. 

Governor : I have the honor hereby to most resiiectfiill y recommend 
First Lieutenant John K, Biicklyn of this regiment for promotion. Lieu- 
tenant Buckljn is one of the senior officers of his grade in the regiment, 
and has well earned promotion by long and faithful service. He com- 
manded his Battery (E) during tlie entu'e period that Captain Randolph 
acted as chief of artillery of the Third Corps. He has participated in al- 
most ever^' engagement of the Arms- of the Potomac, and greatly distin- 
guished himself at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, in which latter battle 
he was severely wounded. In the opening of the present campaign in 
May last, Lieutenant Bucklyn was assigned to duty as aide-de-camp upon 
my staff", and has served in .that capacity since then, participating in the 
battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and 
the Shenandoah Valley displaying, wherever occasion offered, great bra- 
very and gallantry, and at all times performing his duties to my entire 
satisfaction. Promotion could not be bestowed upon a more worthy offi- 
cer, and I sincerely trust that it may be awarded him. 

I remain very respectfully your Excellency's obedient servant, 

C. H. Tompkins, 

Colonel First Rhode Island Light Artillery. 



Headquarters Sixth Corps, "I 
Dec. 9th, 1864. J 

I take pleasure in adding my testimony to that of Colonel Tompkins in 
behalf of Lieutenant Bucklyn, and expressing the ho|ie that it may be in 
the power of His Excellency the Governor of Rhode Island, to bestow 
upon him the promotion his services have so well merited. [Here fol- 
lows a repetition.] He is a man of high order of intelligence and knowl- 
edge of his own of the service, and will, I am sure, do credit to any posi- 
tion to which he may be advanced. 

H. G. Wright, 
Major-General Commatidiug Sixth Corps. 

I take great pleasure in endorsing the remarks of Major-General 
Wright. 

P. II. Sheridan, 

Major-General Commanding. \^Army.'\ 

In addition to the above, Lieutenant Bucklyn had re- 
ceived the cordial recommendation of every immediate com- 
mander, and every brigade, division, and corps commander 
under whom he had served. Jan. 11, 1865, Bucklyn was 
promoted from brevet to captain, and served until Feb. 
5, 1865, when, owing to the illness of his wife, he resigned 



404 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Feb., 



and returned home, leaving behind him a record of which he 
may well be proud. In 1865 he went to Mystic Bridge, 
Conn., and taught the public school for three years and a 
half, 'in 1868 he founded the Mystic Valley English and 
Classical Institute, of which he has since been the principal. 
In this school Professor Bucklyn has met with success, both 
financially and otherwise. Besides attending to the duties 
of the institute, he has also been engaged in the brokerage 
of money and property. In religious matters Professor 
Bucklyn takes much interest. Although not an ordained 
minister, he often supplies the pulpit when called upon to do 
so. He has given some public readings and many lectures 
upon various subjects. He has traveled in nearly every state 
and territory in the Union, and to some extent in Europe. 
Professor Bucklyn is a frequent contributor to the press and 
is financially interested in a local paper published near his 
home. In January, 1864, he married Mary McKee, daughter 
of Edward N. andAmanda Young, of Providence, R. I. Mrs. 
Bucklyn has proved to be a wise and affectionate companion, 
and being possessed of a good degree of culture has added 
much to the happiness of their home. 

Professor Bucklyn has two sons. The oldest was born m 
1865, and is a prominent physician in Mystic _ Bridge, 
Conn. The youngest was born in 1867. He is a grad- 
uate of the New Jersey Medical College. 

February, 21st, a salute of one hundred guns was fired for 
the capture of Columbia and Charleston, S. C. The fall of 
these two places on the 17th and i8th respectively, seemed 
to be the signal for renewed activity on the part of the rebel 
pickets in our front. Their activity and the rumors that 
General Lee's army was about to attack our lines, caused a 
corresponding vigilance on our part. The first result of this 
was an order that one detachment should remain at their gun 
during the night. On the 23d, at three a. m., an attack was 
expected. The guns were manned and the battery hitched 
up, but in a few hours unhitched. 

Thirteen new horses were received on the 23d. Battery G 
of our regiment rejoined the brigade from Camp Berry near 
Washington, 

p'^ebruary 24th. Another salute was fired along our lines 
for the fall of Wilmington, which was captured on the 22d. 



i86s.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 405 

February 25th. James M. Durfee, our guidon, a worthy 
soldier, was discharged, his term of service having expired. 
John H. Hall succeeded him. The battery hitched up at 
three o'clock on this and the following morning. The guns 
\vere also manned. 

February 27th. We received our pay for four months, an 
unusual length of time. Sergeant Humphrey was promoted 
to first sergeant, vice Robbins whose term of service expired 
on the 7th. He continued, however, to act as lieutenant 
and Sergeant Lewis as acting first sergeant. Lance Sergeant 
Austin was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the fourth 
detachment. Lance Corp. Richard T. Beard was promoted 
to corporal and Private Ira Vosburg to lance corporal. 

February 28th. We were mustered for two months (Jan- 
uary and February), by Lieutenant Parker. He also inspected 
the other batteries of the brigade. The canonneers were again 
at their guns, but no enemy appeared. 

March ist. Sergeant Blair and Leonard Steamer the 
bugler, received furloughs, the former for twenty-five days, and 
;he latter for fifteen. The first week in March was unevent- 
ful, only a few drills at the manual of the piece. Two drills 
were had at dismounting and mounting of pieces, and changing 
of wheels, one of these being by Acting Lieutenant Humphrey. 
The health of Captain Rhodes who was still absent although 
somewhat improved, was far from good. Being advised not 
to return to the army, he resigned on the 8th of March, 1865. 

Brevet-Major William B. Rhodes was born at Spring Green, 
Warwick R. L, Aug. 30, 1834. He was educated in the public 
schools of his native town. Among the ancestors of Major 
Rhodes was Governor Benedict Arnold, the first under the 
Royal Charter. His great great grandfather, William West, 
was deputv-governor from 1780 to 1781. He was also a briga- 
dier-general before the Revolution, and afterwards State sena- 
tor and representative to the Assembly, and also one of the 
judges of the Supreme Court from 1787 to 1790, and colonel 
of the Third Rhode Island Regiment in the War of the Revo- 
lution. 

His great grandfather, William Rhodes, and his grand- 
father, James Rhodes, were both large ship-owners. 

His father. Col. Richard U. Rhodes, married Louise Battey, 
sister of General Battey, an officer in the War of 18 12. 



406 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 

After graduating from the Plainfield Academy in Connec- 
ticut, he settled on his farm at Spring Green, in Warwick, 
R. I. He was commissioned, captain, major, and colonel of 
the Pawtuxet Artillery, by Governor John Brown Francis, and 
served the State during the Dorr War. He was appointed 
Inspector of United States Customs by President Taylor, and 
continued in office during President Filmore's administration. 
He was appointed to the same office by President Lincoln, 
being continued in that position under the administrations 
of Presidents Johnson, Grant, and Hayes. He now lives 
(1891) at his home in Pawtuxet, R. I., at the venerable age 
of seventy-eight years. 

Before the breaking out of the civil war. Major Rhodes 
was engaged in the manufacture of jewelry. He began his 
military service in September, 1861, with Battery E, which 
was then forming in " Camp Greene," upon his father's farm, 
in Warwick. After the camp was moved to near Mashapaug 
Pond, in Cranston, he was sent by Governor Sprague with a 
section of artillery through several country towns, a march 
of several days, to stimulate recruiting. He was afterwards 
ordered by Governor Sprague to take a section to Conimi- 
cut Point, Warwick, to try General James's rifle ammunition. 

He was commissioned first lieutenant by Governor Sprague 
to date from Oct. 2, i86t, and assigned to Battery G, same 
regiment. 

"Early in December," says Major Rhodes, "Lieut C. D. 
Owen took the first detachment to Washington, and Lieuten- 
ant Rhodes, the second soon after. Later he took another 
detachment with all the horses and ordnance wagons to 
Camp Sprague, Washington." 

Jan. 3, 1862, his battery left Washington, and during the 
winter was in camp at Poolesville and Edward's Ferry, in 
March it was at Bolivar Heights and Warrington, and then 
returned to Washington, and joined the Army of the I'otomac 
under General McClellan. He was in all the battles of the 
Peninsular Campaign before Richmond, and in the several 
battles on the retreat to Harrison's Landing, the battle of 
Antietam, and at Fredericksburg under General Burnside. 
Dec. 26, 1862, he was transferred to Battery D, same regi- 
ment. Ninth corps. In March, 1863, he went to Kentucky 
with the Ninth corps under Burnside. Was in the pursuit 



1865.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 407 

and capture of General Morgan on his raid in 1863, and 
battles of Blue Springs, Campbell Station, siege of Knoxville, 
assault on Fort Saunders by General Longstreet. Returned 
to Providence, R. I., with the battery on re-enlistment in the 
spring of 1864, was commissioned captain April 7th, by 
Governor Smith, to date from Jan. 5 1864, and assigned to 
Battery E, same regiment, then in camp near Brandy Station, 
Virginia. He was in twenty-three engagements, besides the 
siege of Yorktown, Knoxville, and Petersburg. He was 
breveted major by the president and approved by the Senate 
for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and before Peters- 
burg, to date from Aug. i, 1864. He was honorably dis- 
charged March 8, 1865, for physical disability, from sickness 
contracted at Petersburg. Since the war his occupation has 
been that of a cotton broker. He is a member of the Provi- 
dence Board of Trade, and New York Cotton Exchange, also 
of the First Light Infantry Veteran Association, the Military 
Order of the Loyal Legion, a member of the Warwick Town 
Committee from 1880 to 1888, past master of Harmony Lodge, 
A. F. and A. M. No. 9, a member of the Grand Lodge of 
Rhode Island, Warden of Trinity Chapel, Pawtuxet, and treas- 
urer and moderator of School District No. i, of Warwick, 
R. I., for the past eleven years. He is also a member of 
the Sons of the Revolution. His brother, Robert Rhodes, 
was first lieutenant in the navy, and second in command of 
the United States steamer Clinton, and was at the cap- 
ture of New Orleans and Port Hudson. He was killed in 
the attack on Sabine Pass, Texas. His brother, George H. 
Rhodes, was captain in the First Rhode Island Cavalry, and 
was in all the battles of that regiment, also in the First 
Rhode Island Infantry, with Robert, at first Bull Run. 

Major Rhodes was married April 4, 1 861, to Eleanor F. 
Hicks, daughter of William Hicks and Huldah (Colwell) 
Hicks. Her father was of the firm of Richardson & Hicks, 
manufacturers of jewelry. She is a woman of worth and fine 
ability. Six children have been born to them, four of whom 
are living. 

From the 8th to the 15th, the uneventful period continued. 
On the 1 2th, Lieutenant Chandler started on a leave of 
absence. By the middle of March spring had fairly set in, 



4o8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 

although highwmds and plenty of dust were prevalent ; there 
were, however, a few warm and pleasant days when we 
usually had a field drill by Lieutenant Parker. Durnig Lieu- 
tenant Chandler's leave of absence, whenever we had a field 
drill the left section was commanded by Acting Lieutenant 
Humphrey, and the center section by acting first sergeant 

Lewis. 

On the 14th, Lieutenant Parker received an order to turn m 
one section and have the battery ready to move at short 
notice. The order in relation to turning in a section was 
revoked the next day. The weather was now such as to allow 
of a movement soon, and other signs pointed in the same direc- 
tion, among them being the sending away of the sick to the 
general hospitals, two of whom, George H. Kelley and Wil- 
liam Wells, were sent on the 15th from our battery. The 
sutlers were also preparing to go to the rear. This usually 
precedes an active movement. 

An alarm that the enemy was advancing occurred_ on the 
1 5th, and our cannoneers hurried to their guns. The infantry 
also hastened to support the artillery, but the report proved 

to be false. 

March 17th, being St. Patrick's Day, it was as usual de- 
voted to sports, which our Irish comrades in particular, enjoyed. 
Patrick Station to our left was chosen as the headquarters 
for these sports, horse racing and athletic games being the 
principal amusements of the day. 

March i8th. Three recruits were received, John W. Smith, 
Michael McGrath, and David A. Carpenter. Sergeant Wilder 
and Privates Benjamin Nickerson, William Mings, and Joseph 
Kellner, were detailed for duty in the ambulance train, where 
they remained until the battery was ordered home. 

Sunday, March 19th, occurred the monthly inspection by 
Lieutenant Simmons, who expressed himself as being well 
pleased with the good condition of the battery. 

March 20th. The First and Second divisions of the Sixth 
corps were reviewed in the presence of Admiral David 

Porter. 

March 22d. Inirrier John E.Johnson and privates John 
R. Brayton and Simon W. Kecnc received furlough for fifteen 
days. 



1865.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 409 

March 23d. The wind reached almost a hurricane, the 
dust blowing in clouds. Tent roofs were torn from their 
fastenings, and in some places trees were uprooted and leveled 
to the ground. Notwithstanding the battle of wind and dust, 
Battery E shook off its lethargy and had a field drill, which, 
if doing us no other service gave us the benefit of a good 
airing. 

March 24th. We received our second " Soldiers Memo- 
rial, " which gave the names of the officers and men who 
formed the battery after the first three years' men had been 
discharged. It was not so finely engraved as the first memo- 
rial, but its design was more ornamental. 

March 25th. At four a. m., we were awakened by violent 
cannonading and heavy musketry firing upon our right. In an 
instant we all sprang from our bunks. The officers and 
men not already at their posts hastened to their guns. The 
continued roar of the artillery and the flashing of light from 
burning powder showed too plainly that a heavy attack was 
being made upon our lines. The truth was soon revealed. 
The enemy had massed a heavy force under General Gordon 
in front of Fort Steadman, and, taking advantage of the pri- 
vilege allowed prisoners of coming into our lines with arms in 
their hands, squads of the enemy under that pretense rushed 
upon our pickets and captured our picket posts. " These," 
says General Parke, " were followed by a storming party, who, 
with a rush overpowered the trench guard, broke the main 
line between Batteries 9 and 10, turned to the right and 
left, gained Battery 10, overpowering the garrison of Fort 
Steadman after a spirited resistance, captured the greater 
part of it and then turned its artillery, four twelve-pounders, 
and the guns of Battery 10 against VVillco.x's troops ; but 
not until they had been effectually used by the garrison." 
Space will only allow me to say that after a severe struggle 
by the troops of Hartranft and Willcox and the artillery to the 
right and left of the captured forts, our lines were retaken, 
1,949 prisoners were captured, including seventy-one officers 
and nine stands of colors. The loss of the enemy in killed 
and wounded was estimated to be at least one thousand more. 
General Parke's loss in the Ninth corps was 1,017. Think- 
ing that General Lee had weakened his right to strenghten 
the attack upon P'ort Steadman, Meade ordered an attack 



4IO HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 

upon our left by the Second and Sixth corps. This was 
promptly executed in the afternoon, which resulted in the 
capture of a part of the rebel picket lines in front of those 
two corps. Although the enemy made repeated attempts to 
recapture the lines taken, they were held and aided mate- 
rially in our future success. During the action in the after- 
noon the battery was hitched up and everything packed for 
moving, should it be necessary to do so. Several shots were 
fired by our battery, although it was doubtful if we could 
reach even our own picket line. The loss in the afternoon 
of the Second corps was 690, and that of the Sixth corps 
about 400. The Sixth corps captured 574 prisoners. The 
enemy's loss was supposed to be about 1,000 during the 
afternoon. 

While the fighting on our left was in progress, we were 
surprised to see approaching our camp from the rear an 
unusual body of horsemen, but were more surprised a few 
minutes later, to see the tall form of President Lincoln, accom- 
panied by his wife and his little son " Tad," Generals Grant 
and Meade with their staffs, also several ladies and other 
distinguished guests, ride into our camp and halt in front of 
our quarters. After dismounting, the president, with an 
escort and his little son, entered the fort, and, mounting the 
parapet, stood for several minutes watching the progress of 
the battle which was in full view on our left. Never while 
life lasts can we forget that sad and careworn face when the 
President, bending over to reach the hand of his little son, 
pointed out to him the scene before them. It was a picture 
well worthy to be placed upon canvas to adorn the walls of 
every loyal home. Little did we then think that the great 
soul of that unparalleled statesman would so soon be laid 
upon the altar of his country by the hand of an assassin. 

The attack upon Fort Steadman was really the beginning 
of General Lee's attempt to escape from the net which he 
foresaw General Grant was weaving around him. With Gen- 
eral Sherman approaching him from the south, and with the 
armies of the James and the Potomac closing around him, he 
could but see that if he made his escape he must do so without 
delay ; in fact a plan to abandon the defenses of Petersburg 
and Richmond had been decided upon since early in March. 
The attack upon our right on the 25th, was made with the 



^865.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 4II 

view of drawing the left of Grant's army to the defence of 
his right, thereby improving his chance of retreat as soon as 
the weather would permit. Grant, anticipating that Lee would 
attempt to retreat, join General Johnston and crush Sherman, 
determined as early as the middle of March to forestall such 
a movement. Grant accordingly issued his orders to com- 
mence operations on the 29th of March. While waiting for 
the time to arrive, General Grant ordered General Ord, who 
had commanded the Army of the James since the retirement 
of General Butler in January, to move secretly with two divi- 
sions of the Twenty-fourth corps, the colored division of Gen- 
eral Weitzel's Twenty-fifth corps, and a division of cavalry, 
and mass them in rear of the Second corps, on the evening of 
the 28th. 

General Sheridan left Winchester on the 27th of February, 
and moved up tlie Shenandoah Valley to Staunton, thence 
to Charlottesville, destroying the railroad on his way ; advanc- 
ing then to the right and left, he destroyed the railroad in 
the direction of Gordonsville, and then towards Lynchburg. 
He then moved towards Richmond, destroying a portion of 
the James River canal on his route, joining the army of the 
Potomac on the 26th of March. Sheridan had, early in 
August, 1864, been appointed to the command of the Army 
of the Shenandoah Valley, where he had proved himself to 
be one of the most able commanders in the service. Besides 
defeating General Early, one of the most efficient of the Con- 
federate commanders, and nearly annihilating his army, " he 
had," says his historian, "between Aug. i, 1864, and March 
I, 1865, captured from the Confederates 13,000 prisoners, 
lOi field guns and 49 battle flags, with many thousand small 
arms, besides recapturing 24 Union guns. During that time 
he had lost 1,938 killed, wounded 19,893, and missing 3,421, 
a total of 22,252." 

None had borne a more conspicuous part in that campaign 
than the old veteran Sixth corps, which had preceded Sheri- 
dan in rejoining the Army of the Potomac, and which were 
now about to exhibit the value of their training in the 
final struggle under Sheridan in the Valley. Two days after 
Sheridan's return he received orders from General Grant to 
move with his two divisions of cavalry on the morning of the 
29th and cross Hatcher's Run, and then move by way of 
Dinwiddle Court House to the rear and right of Lee's army. 



412 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 
March 26th to April 9th, 1865. 

Richmond and Petersburg Surrendered— Pursuit and 
Capture of Lee's Army. 

DURING the initiatory movement for the capture of 
Petersburg, Battery E lay unconscious of the near 
approach of the great and final collapse of the slave- 
holders' rebellion. The regular routine of daily duties was 
continued as though no important event was near at hand. 

On Sunday, the 26th, Lieutenant Parker inspected the 
battery. The next day the pieces and carriages were cleaned, 
and the park policed. Sergeant Blair returned from his fur- 
lough. 

March 28th, the battery was hitched up at halt past three 
A. M , on account of an expected attack. The rebels were 
evidently very much alarmed and were on a sharp look out. 
Although portions of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth 
corps were passing by the rear of ouv camp indicating that 
something was on foot, it did not prevent our commandmg 
officer from having a field drill. 

March 29th. Again we hitched up early, but remamedso 
only a short time. The Army of the James was still passhig 
by towards our left. Extra rations were drawn by Acting 
Lieutenant Humphrey. Lieutenant Chandler returned from 
his leave of absence. All were now present for duty except 
three men on furlough, the absent sick in the hospitals, and 
a few who were on detached service. Late in the evening 
all hands were routed from their slumbers on account of 
heavy firing in front of Fort Rice and P'^ort Sedgwick. Sheri- 
dan advanced up the Bovdton Plank road and the Second and 
Fifth corps crossed Hatcher's Run, the former marching up 



iS65.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 413 

the Vaughan road, and Warren going up the Quaker road 
to near Gravelly Run where his leading brigade (Chamber- 
lain's) came in contact with Wise's and Wallace's brigades 
of Anderson's command, when a sharp engagement followed, 
in which the enemy was forced to retreat into his intrench- 
ments on the White Oak road, with a loss of 200 prisoners, 
besides leaving his wounded on the field. Warren's loss was 
367, all in Griffin's division. 

March 30th. Battery E hitched up at daylight, but soon 
unhitched. It began raining early and continued through 
the day, which seriously hindered the movements taking 
place at the left ten miles away. General Humphreys ad- 
vanced with the Second corps and drove the enemy into his 
intrenchments along Hatcher's Run. Warren advanced up 
the Boydton and Quaker roads as far as the Dabney Mill 
road, and occupied a line covering the Boydton road as far 
as Gravelly Run. General Sheridan advanced his cavalry 
divisions on two roads leading towards Five Forks. He 
encountered the enemy's cavalry on both these roads, when 
heavy skirmishing ensued. Night set in and Sheridan halted 
his command near J. Boisseau's, at the junction of the Adams 
and Dinwiddle roads. 

March 31st. Harnessed up early as usual, the rain con- 
tinuing during the forenoon. On account of the bad condi- 
tion of the roads and the swollen streams, the corps com- 
manders were notified that there would be no movement of 
the troops that day ; but General Lee decided otherwise, and 
moved out of his White Oak intrenchments and attacked the 
Fifth corps, a severe engagement being the result. The 
Fifth corps being hard pushed Humphreys sent a portion of 
his Second corps to its relief, which in turn became hotly 
engaged. The contest did not end until night and resulted 
in our troops falling back to the position held the day before. 
The loss in the Fifth corps was 1,406, that in the Second 
374. General Ord, who had relieved the Second and Fifth 
corps in their intrenchments on the night of the 28th, j^ushed 
up his lines during the battle of the 31st and captured many 
prisoners, but lost considerably in so doing. The battle of 
the 31st was known as the battle of White Oak road. 

Before proceeding further it may be well to add, that the 
corps at this time were located as follows, viz.: On the north 



414 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

Side of the Appomattox and across the James, and extending 
along the works in front of Richmond lay a portion of the 
Twenty-fifth and Twenty-fourth corps, now under the tempo- 
rary command of General Weitzel. From the Appomattox to 
Fort Davis the line was held by the Ninth corps, and from 
the Ninth to the left of Fort Welch, a distance of about five 
miles, was the Sixth corps. To the left of the Sixth was a 
portion of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth corps under 
General Ord. Then came the Second, and on its left was 
the Fifth, Sheridan's cavalry being on the extreme left. 
Fort Wadsworth was about midway on the line held by the 
Sixth corps. One thousand yards west of Fort Wadsworth 
stood a small work called Fort Keene, and five hundred yards 
west of this was Fort Tracy. Northwest of this fort and half 
a mile from Fort Wadsworth was Fort Urmston. From the 
last named fort our lines ran in an oval form, the points of 
departure and return being at Fort Urmston, its shorter 
diameter being about half a mile. Near its center stood the 
Signal Tower. On the north face of this oval form was a 
large work known as Fort Fisher, and on its left face was 
Fort Welch. From the signal tower the general course of 
our lines ran southwest nearly to Dinwiddle Court House, 
a distance of about thirty miles from the junction of our lines 
with the Appomattox River. 

April ist. The battery was again up early. Our duties 
were performed as usual, with the exception that we had to 
polish our guns. This, we thought unnecessary. Perhaps it 
was for an "April fool." We were more anxious to tarnish 
them by assisting Sheridan who was fighting with the Fifth 
corps and his cavalry at Five Forks, twelve miles or more to 
our left. Sheridan, who had been driven from that position 
back to Dinwiddle Court House on the 31st of March, 
renewed his advance early on the first of April, driving the 
enemy's line near Five Forks under the command of General 
Pickett. The Fifth corps had been placed under Sheridan's 
command, and, after an unsatisfactory delay, reached the 
vicinity of the battle which had been in progress some hours, 
the cavalry alone being engaged. At four p. m. Warren was 
ordered by Sheridan to form upon his right. " Ayres's division 
which was nearest to the enemy," says De Trobriand, " imme- 
diately changed front, and, after having driven in the pickets. 



>S65.J FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 415 

came upon the intrenchmcnts, forming a right angle with the 
principal line for a distance of more than a hundred yards. 
The division immediately charged with the bayonet and 
carried the works, capturing more than a thousand j^risoners." 
The charge of Ayres made an interval between himself and 
Crawford into which Griffin's division promptly moved and 
captured fifteen hundred more prisoners. The enemy was 
now virtually being attacked on three sides, and were obliged 
to lay down their arms. A part of the enemy's line was still 
held upon his right. Warren, upon coming up charged these 
with the bayonet and made its defenders prisoners. The 
remaining force of the enemy now scattered in all direc- 
tions, pursued by Merritt's and McKenzie's cavalry, and were 
mostly captured. As the number of prisoners varies with 
different accounts from three to six thousand, the correct 
number is quite uncertain. The Union loss was about 800, 
that of the enemy killed and wounded being about the same. 

General Grant, says in his Memoirs, after learning the con- 
dition of affairs on night of the first of April, " I issued 
orders for an assault by Wright and Parke at four o'clock on 
the morning of the 2d. I also ordered the Second corps in 
commiand of General Humphreys and General Ord with the 
Army of the James on the left, to hold themselves in readi- 
ness to take any advantage that could be taken from weak- 
ening in their front. ... I notified Weitzel on the north 
side of the James River, to keep close up to the enemy and 
take advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to 
promptly enter the city of Richmond." 

Let us now return to Parker's battery whose guns we had 
left so nicely polished. During the afternoon of the ist, it 
was comparatively quiet, and we retired as usual after 
"tattoo." We had scarcely fallen asleep, when an orderly 
came in haste with an order for Lieutenant Parker, to open 
fire immediately, and also have his command ready to move at 
short notice. The order was promptly obeyed and by ten o'clock 
our guns fired the first shots along the lines over the heads 
of the astonished pickets. This firing we afterwards learned 
was intended to prevent the rebels from attempting to retreat 
from their works under cover of the extreme darkness. Half 
an hour after our guns had commenced firing the battery 



4l6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

was packed up and ready to move. The continued firing 
provoked an attack from the rebels at about eleven o'clock, 
upon Fort Rice, the firing being mostly by the artillery. 
About two o'clock on the morning of April 2d, the right and 
center sections of our battery, under Lieutenant Parker and 
Chandler, were ordered to take a position in Fort Urmston, 
and await the hour for the assault upon the enemy's intrench- 
ments. In the meantime, the Sixth and Ninth corps, who 
were to lead in the assault, were being prepared for the deci- 
sive action. The account of the Sixth corps charge will be 
best given by the use of General Wright's language in the 
narrative, so far as it applies. He says : " On the evening of 
the ist of April I was directed to make an attack at four 
A. M. the next day. The works to be attacked were those 
extending from the Jones House to a point opposite the left 
of the Sixth corps. The point chosen for assault was se- 
lected , . . upon personal examination and the reports 
of a large number of officers. It was in front of Fort Fisher 
and Fort Welch. The ground to be passed over was perfectly 
cleared of trees, and offered few natural obstacles except the 
marshes with which the front of the enemy's lines were 
intersected. The point was near the left of the corps 
line. . . . The enemy's parapets had high relief and deep 
ditches, preceded by two lines of abatis, well constructed, 
with a fraise between them. Every few hundred yards were 
batteries well supplied with artillery. But for the capture of 
the enemy's intrenched picket line on the 25th of March, 
the attack on the 2d of April could not have succeeded. 
The position then gained was indispensable to the operations 
on the main lines, it affording a place for assembling the 
assaulting columns within striking distance of the enemy's 
main intrenchments. The troops were drawn out of the 
intrenchments, leaving the smallest garrison possible in the 
forts, and very few men in the connecting lines. The three 
divisions were formed for the assault just in rear of the 
picket line; the first division on the right, the Second in the 
center, the Third on the left, the center division being in 
advance of the others. All were formed by brigade_ with 
regiment fronts. Every precaution was taken to insure 
success. There were pioneers in front, and artillerymen 



1S65.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTIILKKV. 417 

provided with implements so that captured guns might be 
turned on the enemy, were with the cohmin.* 

Careful instructions were given to guide the movements of 
the troops when they captured the works. There was not 
light enough to see until 4.40 a. m. Then the men could sec 
to step although nothing could be distinguished at a distance 
of a few yards. Then the signal, the firing of a gun at Fort 
Fisher was given. The columns moved promptly at the sig- 
nal, broke over the enemy's picket line, meeting little re- 
sistance, and poured in masses over the main defenses, un- 
der a musketry fire from the parapets and a heavy artillery 
tire from the batteries. Abatis were cut away and through 
the o])enings thus made, and through those made by the en- 
emy for his convenience of access to the front, the works 
were gained. A brief but sharp conflict occurred which re- 
sulted in giving us the possession of the whole front of at- 
tack. In the ardor of the attack some troops from each di- 
vision crosssed the Boydton road and reached the South Side 
Railroad. Reforming the lines, the troops moved down the 
works to Hatcher's Run, capturing all the artillery and a very 
large number of prisoners. . . . On reaching Hatcher's 
Run the Sixth corps faced about and moved towards Peters- 
burg. At the request of General Gibbon, commanding the 
Twenty-fourth corps, he was allowed to pass the Si.xth, which 
followed on his right and left, and halted in front of the en- 
emv's lines, closing on the Appomattox near the Whitworth 
house. General Wright's troops were so exhausted, having 
been eighteen hours under arms, that it was considered un- 
advisable to attack until the next morning." 

The left section of our baftery and the other two sections 
at Fort Urmston had fired slowly throughout the night. 
Upon the firing of the signal gun at Fort Fisher all the sec- 
tions opened with renewed vigor, especially the sections at 
h^ort Urmston, which were within easy range of the enemy's 
lines. The firing was continued without abatement until the 
retreat of the enenn', not far from five o'clock .\. m. 

* Tlie artilleivnicn selected were from Buttery G, oruliDilc Island. Tliev wercCapl. 
George W. Aclams, Sergt. Archibald Malbone", Sergt. John II. Haveron, Corp. Sainiiil 
E. Lewis, Corp. iaines A. Barber, Corp. Henry Grillitli.Corp. Charles I>. linnis. Private.-, 
Ocorire W. Potter, Gernion Potter, Henry Randall, Henry C Seanians, Carl Guhl. IIenr> 
KrulT, Horace B- 'I'anner, James Callahan, John Corcoran, Cornelius Kyan, John P. 
KornUe, William F. Short, (iimes Taft, Luther" Cornell. Twelve of these men were mem- 
bers ol Battcrv C previous 'to its consolidation with Battery G. Dec. j;„ l^<<^. 



41 8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

" General Parke," says General Humphreys, " kept up the 
fire of all his infantry until one o'clock a. m., on the 2d of 
April, reopening it at four o'clock, when General Willcox 
made a demonstration against the enemy's works opposite 
Fort Steadman. . . . The columns of assault were formed 
between his intrenchments and his picket line at three a. m., 
storming pioneer parties, carrying axes, being placed in front. 
At half-past four o'clock the assaulting columns went for- 
ward, the pioneers cut away abatis and chevaux-de-frise and 
under a heavy musketry, gun and mortar fire, the enemy's 
works were captured with twelve guns, some colors and 800 
prisoners. Turning to the right, Miller's salient was cap- 
tured ; turning ;o the left, the intrenchments were found to 
be heavily traversed, and the fighting went on from traverse 
to traverse. But a rear line of works remained in possession 
of the enemy, which General Parke endeavored to carry, but 
without success. His loss in officers was severe. Among 
the wounded was General Potter. The position gained by 
General Parke extended four hundred yards on each side of 
the Jerusalem Plank road, and included several forts and re- 
dans. Frequent attempts were made by General Gordon 
during that day to retake the works, but he was unsuccessful. 
The firing continued all day and into the night." 

General Humphreys, upon hearing of the success of the 
Sixth and Ninth corps, although he had been instructed not 
to attack the redoubts in his front with his Second corp.s, or- 
dered Generals Hays and Mott to assault at once. The at- 
tack was a success, and the. greater part of the garrison and 
all their artillery was captured. 

The rebel army was now divided. That portion in front 
of the Second corps, after being driven from the works, re- 
treated toward Sutherland Station. General Miles followed, 
and, on coming up with the enemy, attacked them near that 
place, and after a severe engagement, in which he was at first 
repulsed, he finally attacked the enemy's left and was suc- 
cessful in capturing 600 prisoners and two guns. The main 
body, being defeated by General Miles, retreated towards 
Amelia Court House, arriving there at noon on the 4th, 
That part of Lee's army which had not retreated westward, 
retired to the inner lines of works around Petersburg. These 
lines were, on an average, about a mile from the outskirts of 



'8650 FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 4I9 

the city, extending- from the Appomattox River to the east 
and west of the town. Upon the west side of these lines, south 

For \' WhT ' ' ;''' T:^^ '°"'' ^^^'""'^^ ^^^'■^^' "P«» which 
torts Whitworth and Gregg were built. Upon the arrival 

of the_ Sixth_ and Twenty-fourth corps before these works 
Foster s division of Gibbon's corps (Twenty-fourth) was or- 
dered to assault them, and they moved forward under a mur- 
derous fire of artillery and musketry. Foster's division was 
supported by two brigades under General Turner "The 
enemy, says General Gibbon, "made a desperate resist- 
ance and It was not until Fort Gregg was nearly surrounded, 
and his men had succeeded in climbing upon the parapets un- 
der a murderous fire, that the place was finally taken by the 
last ot several determined dashes with bayonets " 

General Harris of the same corps, had in the meantime 
attacked l^ort Wnitworth and was equally successful. Fifty- 
five dead were found inside Fort Gregg alone. Two o-uns 
and 300 prisoners were taken. The loss in Gibbon's corps 
was 714. '■ 

General Lee, seeing that all further resistance would only 
result in the capture of his army resolved to prepare imme- 
diately to evacuate the city. He had, in fact, a few hours 
after General Wright s success in the morning, notified Tef- 
ferson Davis that he would be compelled to abandon his lines 
during the coming night. Mr. Davis, who was in church at 
the time of receiving the message, immediately left the house 
and at once took measures to remove his personal effects and 
the archives of the doomed Confederate government from 
Richmond over the Danville railroad. 

At three o'clock in the afternoon General Lee issued his 
orders for the retreat to begin at eight o'clock in the 
evening. At that hour the troops began to move, the artil- 
lery in advance, followed by the infantry. The trains and 
troops crossed to the north side of the Appomattox River 
and moved over the several roads leading towards Amelia 
Court House, where the larger portion arrived durin<>- the 
4th and 5th of April. The abandonment of Petersburg and 
Richmond not being then known. General Grant durin^ the 
mght of the 2d issued orders for an assault to be ma^de at 
six o clock on the morning of the ^d. By four o'clock it 
was discovered that both cities had been evacuated durin<- 



420 • HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

the night. The formal surrender of Richmond was made to 
General Weitzel at 8.15 a. m.. The United States flag was 
first raised upon the capitol at Richmond by Captain Loomis 
L. Langdon and Lieutenant Johnson L. de Peyster, both of 
Weitzel 's staff. 

The Ninth corps troops were the first to enter Petersburg. 
" Colonel Ely's brigade," says Woodbury in his History of 
the Ninth Corps, " was the first to pass the enemy's works, 
and Colonel Ely himself received the formal surrender of the 
city. At half past four a. m. the First Michigan Sharp- 
shooters, raised their flag upon the Court House, and Peters- 
burg at last was ours. General Willcox announced the sur- 
render, and at five o'clock the gratifying intelligence was 
communicated to General Meade." 

The losses suffered by the capture of Petersburg, according 
to Phisterers's statistics, were, in the Union 'Army, 3,361 ; and 
in the Confederate, 3,000. Among the killed in the latter, 
was General Ambrose P. Hill, one of Lee's ablest corps 
commanders. 

The loss of the Sixth corps alone was, according to 
General Wright's statement to General Humphreys, 1,100, 
all of which occurred within the space of fifteen minutes. 

Battery E was not permitted to share in the honor of 
pursuing Lee's fleeing troops, to whose flight and capture 
I shall before proceeding with the record of Battery E briefly 
refer. 

It was evident that Lee would attempt to reach Danville 
or Lynchburg, and then march to form a junction with the 
army of General Johnston in North Carolina. 

The two armies started on the race on April 3d, Grant on 
the roads south of the Appomattox and Lee on the roads 
north. Sheridan, who had remained near Five Forks took 
the lead, followed by the Fifth corps. The Second corps 
moved early in the morning upon the river road, followed 
soon after by the Sixth corps General Ord followed 
with a portion of the Army of the James along the line of 
the Lynchburg Railroad, which the Ninth corps was in- 
structed to protect behind him. The army, it will be seen, 
was moving in two columns, the Army of the James towards 
Burkesville, while Meade's army moved to strike the Danville 
Railroad at Jetersvillc. Sheridan who led the advance with 



1S65.J FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 42 1 

his own and the Fifth corps reached Jetersville on the 4th, and 
halted for the Second and Sixth corps to come up. These corps 
did not arrive until the afternoon of the 5th. Lee's army was 
still near Amelia Court House, being quite destitute of rations, 
his soldiers had spent the 5th in seeking provisions. During 
the night of the 5th the Confederates fearing to remain 
longer, started on the road, hoping to reach Farmville and 
cross the Appomattox before their pursuers arrived. At day- 
light on the morning of the 6th the Union army was in 
motion. Sheridan and the Sixth corps moving on the flank 
parallel to the enemy's column. Griffin, in command of the 
Fifth corps, moved past Amelia Court House upon the 
enemy's left flank, while Humphreys followed closely upon 
their rear. Ord in the meantime, was pushing rapidly to 
reach Farmville in order to destroy the bridge at that place, 
which he knew Lee with equal haste, was striving to cross 
before being attacked. By nine o'clock skirmishing was 
begun by the Second corps and the enemy's rear guard. 
It soon became known that the enemy had made a stand 
with their rear guard to protect their train, which was being 
liurried forward to a place of safety. The skirmishing con- 
tinued with increasing vigor on both sides, one to protect the 
trains, and the other to capture them. Twenty-eight wagons 
and five guns had already been captured by i\Iott's division 
and also many prisoners. Mott had been severel)' wounded 
and his command fell to De Trobriand, who continued the 
fight with good success. The head of the enemy's column 
had reached Sailors' Creek, and had taken a position to resist 
the pressure which they knew would soon be upon them. 
While Humphreys was devouring the enemy's rear guard by 
piecemeal, Sheridan was advancing along their flank with his 
cavalry. No sooner had one division attacked the rebel 
column, and the enemy halted to resist the attack, than another 
passed on to attack at another point, and then a third division 
in like manner. In the meantime the train moved on, but it 
had been broken into sections, and had lost a large portion of 
the guard detailed to protect it. Sheridan, ever vigilant, had 
hurried on his cavalry, struck the train with his three divi- 
sions and captured four hundred wagons and sixteen pieces of 
artillery, also a large number of prisoners. 



42 2 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

"Between Sheridan in front," says De Trobriand, " and 
Humphreys in rear, was Ewell's Confederate corps, delayed 
by incessant cavahy charges, whose object was to gain time 
for the Sixth corps to arrive. Wright, was indeed, not far 
away, and soon his first division, commanded by General 
Seymour, struck the rebel force before along the road, while the 
Second, commanded by Wheaton, extended around the left 
fiank of the enemy's column. The latter made frequent and 
vigorous attacks in reply, but when it had to halt before the 
fire, assailed on all sides at once, crushed as in a vise 
between the cavalry and the infantry, it had no other 
resource but to lay down its arms. This great haul of the 
net brought in six to seven thousand prisoners. General 
Ewell and five or six other general officers among them." 

This battle is generally known by the name of Sailors 
Creek. 

" To the Sixth corps, " to use the words of General Wright, 
" had fallen the opportunity of striking the decisive blows, not 
only at Petersburg on the 2d of April, but at Sailors Creek 
on the 6th." During the night after the battle and early on 
the morning of the 7th, the commands of Longstreet, with 
Keth, Wilcox, and Fields, marched to Farmsville, crossed 
the Appomattox and leaving a force to delay pursuit, moved 
with the main body out on the road, passing through Appo- 
mattox Court House to Lynchburg about ten miles beyond. 
At Farmsville 80,000 rations had been left for them which 
were distributed to the weary and hungry troops. General 
Gordon's corps and Johnson's division crossed at High 
Bridge, a few miles northeast of Farmsville, and were fol- 
lowed a few hours after by Mahone's division. The armies 
of Meade and Ord immediately commenced the pursuit. The 
Second corps reached High Bridge and found it on fire. 
The enemy's rear guard also attempted to burn the road 
bridge, but were driven away by Barlow's advance, and the 
Second corps immediately crossed and continued the race. 
Barlow soon overtook Gordon and at once attacked him, 
capturing and burning a large number of his wagons. In 
this attack General Smith of Barlow's division was killed. 
General Humphreys with Miles's and De Trobriand's divi- 
sions, which had moved more to the right, came upon the 
enemy at about one o'clock near the Lynchburg road. It was 



1865.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 423 

soon found that nearly the whole of Lee's army was in 
position there. Disposition was at once made for an attack 
and the skirmish line was advanced to feel the enemy's posi- 
tion. Barlow's division was now sent for by Meade, but it 
was delayed at Farmsville on account of the burned bridges. 
In the meaatime Miles had attacked Mahone's division, but 
was not successful. Barlow arrived about night, but too late 
to be of service. The loss of the Second corps during the day 
was about six hundred. 

While the Second corps and Clarke's division of cavalry were 
skirmishing with the enemy on the north side of the Appo- 
mattox, Sheridan ordered Merritt's cavalry division to move 
on a parallel line with the enemy on the south side of the 
river through Prince Edwards Court House to intercept 
Lee's column, should it move in the direction of Danville. 
General Griffin was sent with the Fifth and General Ord 
with the Twenty-fourth corps to co-operate with Merritt's 
cavalry. Sheridan, after having reached Prince Edwards 
Court House with his command, learned that seven trains of 
provisions for Lee's army were near Appomattox Station. 
He at once prepared to make a forced march and capture 
them, and notified General Grant to that effect. This, with 
other information previously received, prompted General 
Grant to open correspondence with General Lee relating to 
the surrendering of his army. The following note was the 
result : 

IIeadc^carters Armies of the United States, ^ 
April 7, 1S65, 5 p. M. I 

Geii. R. E. I^ee, Coimnandi/ifr C. S. A. : 

Tlic results of the last week must have convinced you of the hopeless- 
ness of further resistance on the part of tiie Army of Northern \'iri;;inia in 
this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift fron\ 
mvself the responsihility of any further effusion of hlood by asking of you 
the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States Army known as 
the Armj' of Northern ^Mrginia. 

U. S. Grant, 

LieiiteiKiiil- (iencral. 

A reply was received at about eight o'clock in the evening, 
which read as follows : 



^24 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Ap'i', 

April 7, 1S65. 

General : 

I have received your note of tliis day. Though not entertaining the 
opinion yoSexprei on the hopelessness of further resistance on the part 
of the \rmy of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate vour desire to avoid use- 
less effusTo^i of blood, and therefore beforecorsidering your proposition 
ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender. 

R. E. Lee, 

General. 

To General Lee's note General Grant replied the next day 
more at length in which he said : " In reply I would say that 
peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I 
would insist upon, namely, that the men and officers surren- 
dered shall be disqualified for taking up arms against the 
crovernment of the United States until properly exchanged. 
" During the night of the /tb the enemy in front of the Sec- 
ond corps had retreated as was expected, towards Apponiat- 
tox Court House. The pursuit was resumed at half-past five 
on the morning of the 8th, by the Second corps, followed by 
the Sixth, which had crossed the Appomattox at tarms- 
ville during the night. The Sixth corps after a few miles 
march, moved more to the right, and, after marchmg about 
seventeen miles, halted to await the conference going on be- 
tween Generals Grant and Lee. The Second corps marched 
twenty-six miles and halted about midnight within three 
miles of the enemy. The two columns of troops moving south 
of the Appomattox had continued their march on the 8th. 
The Fifth and Twenty-fourth united at Prospect Station 
under the command of Generals Ord. Sheridan movec rapidly, 
and had, as he intended, captured four of the rebel supply 
trains, the other three having been run back. After captui- 
ino- the trains the cavalry moved on to the vicinity of Appo- 
mattox Court House, and threw themselves across the roads 
in front of Lee's army. The infantry, after three hours of 
rest at Prospect Station, resumed its march, reaching the 
roads in rear of Sheridan's troops on the morning of the 9th 
and immediatelv deploved in rear of Sheridan s cavalry, and 
awaited the result of 'the negotiations for surrender. We 
will now recross the river to where we left the Second and 
Sixth corps at midnight in line of battle. 



1S65] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 425 

While General Humphreys's corps had halted to rest at dark 
on the 9th, General Lee's answer to General Grant's second 
letter was received. "This letter," says General Grant, 
" was for a different purpose from that of surrendering his 
army, and I answered him as follows : 

IIeadquartkks Armies of the rxiTED States, 1 
.Vpril 9, 1S65. j" 

Gen. R. E. Lee, Coiitmanding C. S. A.: 

Your note of yesterday is received. .\s I iiave no authority to treat on 
the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten a. ai. to-dav could 
lead to no good. . . . The terms upon which peace can be had aie 
well understood. By tlie South laying down their arms they will hasten 
that most desirable event, save thousands of lives and hundreds of mil- 
lions of property not \et destroyed. 

U. S. Grant, 

Lieuienaiit-deiieral . 

During the morning of the 9th, and before the terms of 
surrender had been accepted by Lee, one more and the last 
effort was made by the Army of Northern Virginia to sun- 
der the coil of bayonets that had been thrown around them 
by the Union army. Supposing that only cavalry was in 
their front, the enemy attacked with a heavy force of in- 
fantry and cavalry at sunrise and drove back Crook's cav- 
alry. Custer was brought up and he in turn was also driven 
back. At this juncture let General Ord speak for himself : 
" I was barely in time on the morning of the 9th, for in spite 
of General Sheridan's attempts the cavalry was falling back 
in confusion before Lee's infantry ; but we soon deployed 
and went in, Gibbon on the left at double-quick, with Fos- 
ter's and Turner's divisions in beautiful style, and the colored 
troops also at the double-quick imder these commanders, with 
the Fifth corps under Griffin, when a white Hag met us at 
the Fifth corps front with request for a cessation of arms 
until General Lee could meet General Grant and confer on 
the terms. As I knew that a surrender had been called for 
and terms asked for and made known, I knew that this second 
request meant acceptance, antl tlie bugles were sounded to 
halt." 

During the term of suspension a message was on its way 
bv a courier to General Grant which rcatl as f(jllo\vs : 



426 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

April 9, 1865. 

General : 

I received jour note of this morning on the picket line, whither I had 
come to meet >ou, and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in 
vour proposal of jesterday, with reference to the surrender of this arm}'. 
I now ask an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your 
letter of yesterday' for that purpose. 

R. E. Lee, 

General. 
Lieut. General U. S. Grant. 

To this General Grant replied by a note from which an 
extract reads as follows : 

" I will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you.'" 

General Grant, soon after reaching the front, was con- 
ducted to the residence of Mr. McLean, where he found 
General Lee with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff, await- 
ing him. After some general conversation about former 
times in the old army, the two famous chieftains proceeded 
with the business for which they had met. The terms of 
surrender being completed. General Lee sat down and wrote 
the followinsf letter : 



Headql'arters Army of Northern \'irginia, | 
April 9, 1S65. J 

General : 

I have received 3'our letter of this date containing terms of surrender 
of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As they are sub- 
stantially the same as those expressed in your letter of Sth inst., they are 
accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the 
stipulations into effect. 

R. E. Lee, 
Lieut. General U. S. Grant. General. 

The business having been completed General Lee took his 
departure for his own lines and both armies went into biv- 
ouac. Soon after Lee's departure General Grant telegraphed 
the following to Hon. \\. M. Stanton, Secretary of War: 



1S65.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 427 

General Lee surrendered the Arniv of Nortliern \'irginia this after- 
noon on terms proposed by myself. The accompanying additional cor- 
respondence will show the conditions full\-. 

U. S. Grant, 

Lieut .-General. 

According to the records of the War Department the num- 
ber of officers and men surrendered by General Lee was 
2,862 officers, 25,494 enlisted men, making a total of 28,356. 

The casualties in the Union army from the 29th of March 
to the 9th of April were 8,268 killed and wounded, and 
1,676 missing, making a total of 9,944. 

The morning reports of the Army of the Potomac just be- 
fore the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond give present 
and equipped, 77,882 officers and men, and 243 guns. That 
of the Army of the James was 36,345 officers and men, and 
120 guns, making a total of 1 14,227 officers and men and "^^^^^ 
guns. 

Gen. U. S. Grant was commander-in-chief of all the armies 
of the United States, his headquarters being with the Army 
of the Potomac. March 31, 1865, Gen. George G. Meade 
commanded the Army of the Potomac and Gen. Edward O. 
C. Ord, the Armv of the James. Gen. Andrew A. Humph- 
reys commanded the Second corps. Generals Miles, William 
Hays, and Mott commanding its divisions. The latter was 
severely wounded on the 6th of April, and General De Tro- 
briand assumed command. This division contained the rem- 
nant of the old Third corps which never dishonored the 
memory of that grand old command. 

Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren commanded the Fifth corps, 
being relieved by Sheridan after the battle of P'ivc Forks, 
when he was appointed by General Grant to command the 
defenses at City Pomt, and Gen. Charles Griffin succeeded 
him. Its divisions were commanded by Generals Bartlett, 
Ayres, and Crawford. The Sixth corps was commanded by 
Gen. Horatio G. Wright. Its divisions were commanded by 
Generals Frank Wheaton, Getty, and Seymour. The artil- 
lery of this corps, owing to the sickness of Brevet Brig. -Gen. 
C. H. Tompkins, while in pursuit of Lee, was commanded 
by Capt. Andrew Cowan, of the First New York Battery. 



428 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

The Ninth corps was commanded by Gen. John G. Parke, 
whose three divisions were in command of Generals Willcox, 
Potter, and Hartranft. The cavalry was an mdependent com- 
mand under General Sheridan. 

The Twenty-fourth corps was commanded by Gen. John 
Gibbon, and the Twenty-fifth by Gen. Godfrey Weitzel. The 
Army of the Shenandoah, which had joined the Army of the 
Potomac, was in command of Gen. Wesley Merritt, of which 
Generals George A. Custer and Devin were division com- 
manders. 



1S65.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 429 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

April— May— June— 1865. 

Camp Near City Point. — March to Alexakdrlv. — 

Return Home and Muster Out of Service. — 

Eio(;raphical Sketches. 

LET us now return to our battery which we left on the 
2cl of April engaged with the Sixth corps in its attack 
upon the defenses of Petersburg. After the retreat 
of the rebels, the left section remained unpacked in camp 
until the next morning when it was joined by the other two 
sections, which had remained at Fort Urmston. During the 
morning of the 2d, the battery fired sixty-four rounds of am- 
munition. On the morning of the 3d, we awaited with glad 
hearts for orders. In the meantime some of the officers and 
men went to the front to view the captured works. Among 
the number was First Sergeant Humphrey, who mounted his 
horse and did not stop until he had entered the captured cit\'. 
On his return he met Generals Meade and Grant, who were 
just entering the town. 

About the middle of the day Lieutenant Parker received 
orders to report to the defenses near City Point, and we soon 
after started, taking with us six captured guns, consisting of 
i2-pounder ordnance guns, and one 24-pounder howitzer. 
We arrived near City Point about dark, and parked inside 
the defenses, where we remained until the 5th. A large num- 
ber of the batteries were sent back with us to City Point, and 
to designate them from the reserve artillery, they were bri- 
gaded and called the Artillery Reserve. We were at first 
put into the Fourth brigade, commanded by Captain Eaton. 
On the 5th, an order was received to move outside of the 
lines. This was obeyed just at night, and the next day we 



430 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 

fixed up our camp expecting to remain some time. It was in 
this camp on the 6th of April that First Sergeant Humphrey 
and Sergeant Lewis received their commissions as second 
heutenants, both being dated March 31st. They immedi- 
ately signified their acceptance and wrote to General Tomp- 
kins for an assignment, but that officer was, unknown to 
them, absent sick, resigning April 21st. The lieutenant- 
colonel being on detached service in the middle department, 
the command of our regiment fell upon Maj. John G. Hazard. 
It was some days before he was heard from. We then found 
he did not know where the vacancies existed. We waited 
until the 24th of April and then went to Burkesville, sixty 
miles away, to see the major. We found him the next day, 
and learned he was still ignorant as to the vacancies, but he 
promised to push the matter, and we returned to camp hav- 
ing learned nothing satisfactory. We had, however, the 
pleasure of riding over the Southside Railroad and seeing 
some of the places made famous by the pursuit and capture 
of Lee's army. It was not until the army had been marched 
to the vicinity of Washington that we had an opportunity to 
see or hear from Major Hazard again. After several visits 
to his headquarters at Bailey's Cross Roads, we received our 
assignments on the 29th of May, Humphrey to Battery D, 
First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, and the writer 
to Battery H, of the same regiment. We immediately 
asked to be discharged to enable us to be mustered, which re- 
quest was approved by all the officials until reaching General 
Meade, who returned it with the following endorsement : 

This upplication cannot be granted as the artillery has been ordered 
to be mustered out of the service. 

By command of 

Major-General Meade. 

After so long a delay the ending was fortunate, as we 
would have lost the balance of our unpaid bounty had we 
been mustered. 

April 9th. Inspection by Major Miller commanding the 
Artillery Reserve. Privates lirayton and Kecne, and Farrier 
John E. Johnson returned from furlough. The surrender of 



1865.] FIRST K. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 43 1 

Lee's army was announced. Great cheering followed, and 
a salute was fired for the realization of the long-hoped for 
event. A more general salute followed the next day. 

On the 1 2th the writer rode to Petersburg. While there the 
si.\ or seven thousand prisoners captured on the 6th, passed 
through the city. Other bodies of prisoners were met on the 
way, among whom were Generals Ewell, Kershaw, and G. 
W. C. Lee. 

Sunday, April i6th. It became known that President 
Lincoln had been assassinated by J. Wilkes Booth. The 
excitement was intense, and our indignation knew no bounds. 
At night our camp guard was doubled and at midnight the 
writer was called to Lieutenant Parker's headquarters and 
when reporting was ordered to make a mounted detail, 
armed with pistols and sabres, who were to report to some 
officer for the purpose of guarding the banks of the James 
River. This was to assist in the capture of the assassin of 
President Lincoln, who it was thought would attempt to 
escape across the James River and seek safety among his 
Southern friends. These precautions were repeated on the 
night of the 17th. 

During the 17th fifteen horses were ordered to be sent to 
the Sixth corps artillery, which had not yet returned from 
the pursuit and capture of the enemy. The horses were in 
charge of Lieutenant Chandler, Sergeant Austin and Corp. 
J. Dexter. Twenty-six horses had been sent on the 13th to 
the same command under charge of Sergeant Blair. Through- 
out the 17th minute guns were fired on account of the death 
of the President. 

April 1 8th. Our camp was moved to the inside of the line of 
breastworks into the camp just vacated by the Fifteenth New 
York (Engineers). The location was pleasant, but devoid of 
natural shade, but an artificial one was soon after substituted. 
A small building standing in the camp, which had been used 
by the cjuartermaster of the engineers, was taken possession 
of by Lieutenants Humphrey and Lewis, Quartermaster Rem- 
ington, and the company clerk (Whittemore). This was 
fitted up with good bunks and other conveniences added, 
which made their quarters very comfortable. 

The officers' quarters were also very pleasantly situated, 
and the whole camp was quite an agreeable abode. 



432 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, 



We were now assigned to the Fifth brigade, which was 
commanded by Captain Start, Major Miller having a few 
days before been relieved by Gen. William Hays 

April iQth. Minute guns were fired during the hours ot 
the funeral service over the remains of our lamented Presi- 
dent, which was being held at the President s mansion m 

Washington. . , , -, 

ADril^oth We witnessed the execution of a colored 
soldier in" front of our camp. He had threatened or tried to 
shoot his captain. The officiating troops were all colored, 
including the chaplain. 

April 2 1 St. We received fifty new horses from the quaitei- 
master of the Artillery Reserve. ^,,,11 i 

A.pril ^■'d Sixty-six recruits arrived from Rhode Island. 
These with others previously received, made seventy-four 
since [he middle of March. We had now on our company 
roll over one hundred and ninety enlisted men all but twelve 
being present for duty. These included the detached men^ 

ASril -6th The remains of President Lincoln, which had 
been lying in state at Albany, N. Y., were being earned to 
Sprin-field, 111. General Grant had issued an order to be 
read fn every command in the army, and our brigade of 
batteries was marched to brigade headquarters where the 
order was read. It enjoined all officers to wear crape for 
six months on their left arm and on their sabres and minute 
guns were ordered to be fired at every half hou. duiing 

^%tl^o■ the remainder of the month we had several field 
drills by\ieutenant Parker. The recruits were drilled every 
day at the manual drill, but they seemed, hovvever. to care 
but little about learning. Many of these men had prooably 
e listed for their bounty, believing that the war would soon 
be ended it was but natural that they should be indifferent 
'n,c men were usually drilled on the gun by Lieutenant 
Chandler, but occasionally by Lieutenant Humphrey 

Ap l-'Sth. Corporal P. A. Dexter was reduced to the 
rai^s foT some slight disobedience of orders. As his time 
wTs so near out a less punishment would have been wisei. 
h' was a good soldier. Lance Corporal Gerber was pro- 
moted to fill the place made vacant. Private William t reed- 

an was promoted to lance corporal. A salute of 100 gun. 



j865.] first R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 43 



33 



was fired for the surrender of General Johnston, which oc- 
curred on the 26th. The next day we received the news that 
the assassin Booth had been shot by Boston Corbett, of the 
Sixteenth New York Cavalry. The rejoicing over this was 
equal to that over a victory on the battlefield. 

April 30th. We were mustered for pay for March and 
April by Brevet Major Phillips. Two more recruits were re- 
ceived from Rhode Island, David Casey and Francis Elwood. 
William Johnson, one of the late recruits, was sent to the 
hospital. 

May 1st. It was rumored that the artillery was to march 
to Alexandria by the overland route. This was indeed a 
bright spot in the heavens, as it indicated that the storm of 
war was about to give way to the clear sky of peace. Two 
more fortunate men received furloughs for twenty days, Wil- 
liam Owens and John H. Schneider. 

May 2d. The rumors of the preceding day began to be 
realized. Our ammunition and chests were sent to City 
Point to be transported to Alexandria by water. Lieutenant 
Potter and Corporal Boggs and twenty-one men were detailed 
to accompany the ammunition. 

Orders came to march early in the morning with all the 
Artillery Reserve to Alexandria. P. A. Dexter and M. Mc- 
Kain were sent to the General Hospital in Washington. 
Dexter, after a few weeks, was sent to Portsmouth Grove 
Hospital in Rhode Island, where he remained until he rejoined 
his battery at Providence. This was a happy night for the 
men of Battery E. Our impatience for morning made it seem 
long, but it came at last, and with it a pleasant day. 

At four o'clock on the 3d, the bugle call awoke us from our 
slumbers. We quickly fed and groomed our horses and took 
down and properly disposed of our tents, Our breakfast was 
soon over, and, all being in readiness, at the command, "By 
piece, from the right front into column, march," we moved 
forward and took our designated place in the column. At 
eight o'clock the line started, crossed the Appomattox and 
James Rivers and encamped near Aiken's Landing. 

May 4th. We left camp at six a. m. and marched into 
Richmond at nine o'clock. It was just one year before that 
we left Brandy Station with the army to capture Richmond 

28 



434 HISTORY OF BATTERY K, [xMav, 

and Lee's army. We Kacl succeeded, but at what a fearful 
cost. On our march through the city we were not halted 
and had but little opportunity to see the seat of the rebellion, 
but passed on through Mechanicsville and went into camp at 
two p. M., two miles beyond. 

May 5th. We broke camp at six a. m., and started in the 
advance over bad roads, marching until two o'clock in the 
afternoon, and halted one mile beyond Hanover Court House, 
near the Pamunkey River. 

May 6th. The pontoons not being laid until night, we had 
to wait until then, when we crossed, and halted one mile be- 
yond for the night. 

May 7th. Reveille sounded at half-past one. We started 
at five A. M., and marched rapidly over good roads, crossing 
the Mattapony River at Milford Station, then on to Bowling 
Green, where we remained over night. 

May 8th. Left Bowling Green early and marched to 
Fredericksburg, encamping upon the battle ground where 
we fought on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of December, 1862. 

May 9th. Reveille sounded at about two a. m. Started 
two hours later, marched all day through the rain, over hilly 
and muddy roads, passed thrt)ugh Fredericksburg, crossed the 
Rappahannock River, thence on through Stafford Court 
House, to Aquia Creek, five miles beyond, and halted at three 
V. M. for the night. 

May loth. Broke camp at six a. m., and traveled five 
miles beyond Dumfries and went into park. Charles H. 
James quite sick with the measles. This was the first case 
that had occurred in the battery. 

May nth. We started at five a. m., crossed Wolf Run 
Shoals on the Occoquan, passed Fairfax Station and Fairfax 
Court House and marched a few miles beyond, encamping 
between Annandale and Fall's Church. Our march was al30ut 
thirty miles. The long marches of the week had used up 
quite a number of our horses ; one belonging to the ambu- 
lance died. Heavy showers disturbed our rest at night. 

May 1 2th. We remained in camp all day. The weather 
was cold but pleasant. The company clerk and the writer 
straightened out the company records and the morning reports 
covering the period of our overland march. 



1865.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT AR TILLKKV. 435 

May 13th. Our camp was vacated at ten a. m. We 
marched past Bailey's Cross Roads to within two miles of 
Alexandria and went into camp about a quarter of a mile 
north of Fairfax Seminary, and our overland march of eleven 
days was ended. Upon the whole it had been more pleasant 
than otherwise. Soon after our arrival our comrade who was 
sick with the measles, with John Watson and John McKenna, 
was sent to the hospital. The several corps of the Army of 
the Potomac, except the Sixth, reached the vicinity of Wash- 
ington and Alexandria about the same date as that of our 
battery, and encamped on the west side of the Potomac. 
These troops selected pleasant localities and fitted up com- 
fortable but not elaborate camps, and awaited their long-de- 
sired discharge, which the artillery was the first to receive. 

May 14th. We had a Sunday inspection, by Lieutenant 
Parker commanding, after which comfortable quarters were 
fitted up for both men and officers. Company cooking was 
resumed. The first good news to reach us after our arrival 
was the capture of Jefferson. Davis by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Pritchard, of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry. 

May 15th. The limber chests which had been sent on 
transports were brought to camp from Alexandria, accompa- 
nied by the detail that had been sent with them. It is prob- 
able that two guns were turned in before we left City Point, 
which fact is supported by an extract from my diary under 
date of May 3d, which reads, " had charge of extra caissons, 
battery wagon, forge, spare horses, ambulance, etc." It is 
still further confirmed by another extract dated May 20th, 
which says, " went with Lieutenant Potter to the arsenal at 
Washington to turn in two caissons and twelve single sets of 
harnesses." 

But little more service was required of the men before 
being sent home. Once the harnesses were oiled and the 
battery washed. Several foot drills and a few at the manual 
of the piece were had. These were mostly by Lieutenants 
Humphrey and Lewis. Permission was freely given the men 
to visit Alexandria, Washington, and other points of interest, 
of which Mount Vernon was one. 

May 20th. Sergt. William S. Blair received a commission 
as second lieutenant, assigning him to Battery F, but he 
was not permitted to be mustered. 



436 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

May 2ist. James Smith, Jeremiah Devine ahas (Donovan) 
and Charles Walters detached men from Battery A New, 
Jersey, were reported to the provost marshal at Alexandria. 
These 'men claimed the benefit of the President's proclamation 
pardoning deserters on condition of their returning to their 
regiments. The writer handed their papers to the marshal, 
who, after reading them said, their claim was not covered by 
the proclamation,. as they had enlisted again after deserting 
and the men were ordered under arrest to be tried as 
deserters. The men felt badly, but there was no appeal. 

On May 23d occurred the Grand Review of the Army of 
the Potomac, excepting the Sixth corps and the Artillery 
Reserve. The Sixth corps on the 23d of April had hurried 
south to Danville to assist in capturing General Johnston's 
army. Owing to this it did not arrive in time to take part in 
the review. Twenty men from our battery were given passes 
to witness the magnificent spectacle. The next day followed 
the review of Sherman's army, composed of the Fourteenth, 
Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Twentieth corps. The reviewing 
stand was in front of the President's mansion, and was occu- 
pied by distinguished persons from all parts of the country 
and the officials of every department of the government. 
One of the pleasing features in the review of Sherman's 
army was the following after each brigade of the "foragers," 
known as " Sherman's Bummers." " They appeared," says 
General Slocum, " in their native ugliness, as they appeared 
on the march through Georgia and the Carolinas. Then- 
pack mules and horses with rope bridles or halters, ladened 
with supplies such as they carried oii the march, formed part 
of the column." 

The Sixth corps after we had left for home was reviewed 
alone at Washington on the 8th of June. It was of course, 
not so large a review as the others, but it was a successful 
affair. The corps made a splendid appearance and was 
heartily cheered by large and enthusiastic gatherings. These 
reviews were probably never surpassed on the American 
continent. 

May 25th. An order was read in all the regiments and 
batteries announcing the discharge of all the men whose 
term expired before Oct. i, 1865. Following this in the 
evening was the most beautiful sight that we ever saw. As 



1S65.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 437 

far as could be seen the regiments and batteries had lighted 
bonfires, composed of every material that would burn, besides 
thousands of candles had been bought, lighted and set along 
the ridge-poles of the tents. The air was full of smoke 
arising from the innumerable fires and the din of cheers 
from the delighted soldiers was deafening. It was a scene 
that will never be forgotten so long as memory serves. In 
this display of rejoicing our battery bore its part with equal 
ardor, which was continued long after the usual hour of taps. 

On the 26th and 27th our fervor was somewhat lessened 
by a chilly rain-storm. On the latter date privates Teague, 
P. Sullivan, and Judd, whose time had expired, were 
taken to a mustering officer and mustered out of service. 
Eleven horses were turned in at the corral at Washington, 
and Corporal Ira X'osburg, privates D. Torpy and David 
Vanness were returned to their regiments (Fourth New- 
York Heavy Artillery), having been recalled to be discharged. 

Sunday May 28th, we had an inspection by Lieutenant 
Parker, the last by that faithful officer. David A. Carpenter 
and Henry Binns returned to duty, having been on guard at 
artillery headquarters. 

May 29th. As previously stated. Lieutenants Humphrey 
and Lewis, by order of Governor Smith, were assigned to duty 
in other batteries, but not being mustered they asked and 
obtained permission of Brevet-General Hazard to remain and 
return home with their old battery. Seeing that we had not 
donned our official insignia, the general ordered us to do so at 
once. For what reason unless it was to keep us from getting 
rusty, our commanding officer ordered the battery to be 
drilled at the manual of the piece, and this was repeated the 
following day. These were the last and least interesting 
gun services ever performed by the members of Battery E. 

As has been stated in the biographical sketch of Captain 
Rhodes, he left the battery Dec. 8, 1864, and was mustered 
out March 8, 1865. Since the former date Lieutenant Par- 
ker had commanded the battery with great credit to himself 
and to the battery. Lieutenant Bucklyn, who was the rank- 
ing officer in the battery, having resigned also, we had looked 
for the promotion of Lieutenant Parker to the captaincy of the 
company, but it was ordered otherwise. The honor fell upon 
Brevet-Capt. Jacob H. Lamb, of Battery G, of our regiment. 



43S HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

He arrived at our battery on the 30th, and was mustered as 
captain the same date, taking command June the 3d. 

First Lieut. Ezra K. Parker was born Dec. 29, 1832, 
in the town of Scituate, R. I. His father was Joseph Par- 
ker. His mother was Mary (Knight) Parker, daughter 
of Darius and Hannah (Stone) Knight. His father having 
purchased a farm near Summit Station, in Coventry, R. I., 
moving there in 1836. In connection with the care of the 
farm his father carried on the business of a blacksmith. 
Here his son Ezra began the battle of life, by assisting his 
father on the farm and in the shop. He punctually attended 
the public school of his district, in which, at an early age, he 
manifested a marked degree of scholarship. At the age of 
fifteen he began teaching. At eighteen he entered the 
Smithville Seminary at North Scituate, R. I., and afterwards 
the University Grammar School at Providence, R. I., taking 
the valedictory at the latter upon graduation. 

Soon after this he entered Dartmouth College, where he 
graduated in 1857, ranking first in scholarship in a class of 
si.xty-five. During his vacations and after his graduation, he 
taught school in several districts of his native State, Massa- 
chusetts, and Virginia. 

In 1859 he went to Portsmouth, Va., and studied law with 
Virginius O. Carroll, returning to Rhode Island in i860. 
July 12, 1859, he married Mary H. Hopkins, daughter of 
Hon. David Hopkins, of West Greenwich. R. I., widely 
known in business and political circles as a man of high 
honor and sterling integrity. 

Lieutenant Parker enlisted as a private in Battery D, First 
Rhode Island Light Artillery, Sept. 4, 1861. Three days 
later he was commissioned second lieutenant and mustered 
as such September 9th. He served with valor in his battery 
during the arduous campaign in Virginia, and at one time was 
Assistant Adjutant-General, Artillery Brigade, First Corps, 
Army of the Potomac. 

He served under Burnside in Kentucky and Tennessee, 
where his battery suffered from its long and rapid marches, 
and deficiency of clothing and rations. After completing 
his service at the west, Lieutenant Parker returned east 
with his battery, which had recnlisted as veterans. April 
8, 1864, he was commissioned first lieutenant, and assigned 



1S64.] FIRST R, I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 439 

to Battery E, reporting to that battery April 23d, then near 
Brandy station, and mustered in the next day. As section 
commander he took part in the battles of the Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor and in the 
intrenchments before Petersburg. After the departure of 
Captain Rhodes he commanded the battery from Dec. 10, 
1864, to June 3, 1865, being then relieved by Captain Lamb. 
He was mustered out of the service June 14, 1865. He then 
returned to his home and managed his farm during the 
summer and taught school in the winter until 1881. We 
next find him reading law with the Hon. Henry J. Spooner 
and Augustus J. Miller. In 1883 he was admitted to the 
Rhode Island bar, and a few months later to the bar of the 
United States. Although residing a portion of the time in 
Cranston he still claims his residence in Coventry, R. I., in 
which town he has held many civil offices, among them be- 
ing that of school committee and superintendent of schools 
for twelve years, also a member of the State Board of Edu- 
cation six years, and president of the Town Council one year. 
His counsel has been sought by the leading men of his town 
for many years, upon all cjuestions pertaining to the welfare 
of the town and State. His sound judgment and ripe scholar- 
ship have secured for him a large measure of personal esteem. 
He has two children, a son and a daughter. The son has 
represented his town for several terms in the legislature. 
The daughter is a graduate of the Boston University. 

Capt. Jacob H. Lamb was born Jan. 6, 1818, in Granville, 
Vt., and was the son of Warren and Fear (Huntington) 
Lamb. He received a limited education in his native town. 
During his early life he engaged in farming. Jan. 18, 1840, 
at the age of twenty-two,. he enlisted at Whitehall, N. Y., as 
a private in the United States army, and was assigned to a 
light artillery company then stationed at Plattsburg, near 
Lake Champlain. In June, 1842, his battery was ordered to 
march to Fort Adams, R. I., and reached there July 2d. On 
Feb. I, 1843, he was promoted to corporal, serving as such 
until mustered out of service at Fort Adams, Jan. 18, 1845. 
After his discharge he learned the carpenter's trade. About 
1847 he went to Pawtucket, R. I., working there at his trade a 
few years, then returned to Newport, remaining there until 
about 1854. He then went to California, returning to Newport 



440 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, 

in the spring of i860. Early in September, 1861, he enlisted 
as a private in Battery E, First Regiment Rhode Island 
Light Artillery. Upon reporting for duty he was ordered to 
act as sergeant, and was promoted to that rank upon the ap- 
pointment of the company's officers. March 14, 1862, he 
was promoted to first sergeant. He served in this capacity 
in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glen- 
dale, Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, Second Bull Run, 
and Chantilly. While at Arlington Heights he received a 
commission as second lieutenant, dated Oct. i, 1862, which 
assigned him to Battery A, of the same regiment. In this bat- 
tery he served with distinction, participating in the battles of 
Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and Marye's Heights, 
May 3, 1863. At the famous battle of Gettysburg he was 
severely wounded in the hand, on account of which he re- 
ceived a leave of absence of twenty days He was with his 
battery in its engagement at Bristoe Station, October 14th. 
Nov. 6, 1863, he was commissioned first lieutenant, and was 
mustered into Battery C, of Rhode Island, on the nth. In 
this command he shared the perils and fatigue of the memo- 
rable campaign of General Grant in the summer of 1864. In 
July his battery accompanied the Sixth corps to Washington 
and the Shenandoah Valley. Captain Waterman and Lieu- 
tenant Fiske being mustered out of service early in Septem- 
ber the command of the battery devolved upon Lieutenant 
Lamb, who commanded it from September 9th to its consoli- 
dation with Battery G, Dec. 23, 1864. 

At the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19th, he handled his 
battery with conspicuous bravery, for which he was breveted 
captain, to date from October 19th. Nov. 5, 1864, he was 
commissioned captain in the First Regiment Rhode Island 
Light Artillery. He was not, however, assigned to, or mus- 
tered into, any other battery, but continued to command Bat- 
tery C as first lieutenant and brevet captain until its consoli- 
dation. In February, after his transfer to Battery G, he re- 
ceived a leave of absence. On his return he took with him 
his only son, Albert H., as an attendant, he being only fifteen 
years old, and who remained with his father until the close of 
the war. 

About the 20th of March Battery G left "Camp Barry," 
near Washington, where it had been in winter quarters since 




Capt. Jacob H. Lamb. 



1S65.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 44I 

December, and joined its corps (the Sixth) in front of Peters- 
burg, arriving there on the 23d of March, 1865. Captain 
Lamb took part in the assaults upon the enemy's intrench- 
ments around Petersburg April 2d, and was also in the battle 
of Sailors Creek April 6th. After Lee's surrender his bat- 
tery went to Danville, remaining there until after the surren- 
der of General Johnston. On May 30th he reported to Bat- 
tery E by the authority of the following order : 

Mi^y 23, 1865. 

special Orders No. iit. 

First Lieutenant and Brevet Captain Jacob H. Lamb, Battery G, First 
Rliouc Island Artillery, will proceed at once to Alexandria. Va., for the 
purpose of being mustered in as captain of Battery K, First Rhode Island 
Artillery, now at that place. 

By command of Major-General Wright. 

[Signed] C. W. Whittlesey, 

Acting Adjutant- General. 

As elsewhere stated, he arrived near Alexandria May 30th, 
where Battery E was then stationed, and was musteVed as 
captain the same date.' He assumed command June 3d by 
instructions of the following order : 

Headquarters Artillery Reserve, A. of P., ) 
June 2, 1865. J 

Special Orders No. jS. [Extract.] 

Third Captain Jacob H. Lamb, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, will 
assume command of Battery E. 

By command of Brigadier-General Hays. 

Samuel Chapin, 
Lieutefiant and A. A. A. G. 

After his battery was mustered out Captain Lamb resumed 
his business as a carpenter. In the spring of 1866 he went 
South for the purpose of building a residence for J. N. A. 
Griswold, of Newport, R. I. In the autumn of 1867 he re- 
turned to Rhode Island and built a house in Pawtucket for 
himself, moving into it in May, 1868. He continued his 



44^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

business in Pawtucket and Providence until late in 1879, 
when he found employment in the Atlantic Mills at Olney- 
ville, R. I., where he remained until his death, which occurred 
after one week's illness at his son's residence, Feb. 6, 1880. 

Captain Lamb was married, Nov. 9, 1846, to Harriet 
Gardner of Newport, R. I. He had one son and two daugh- 
ters, his son, Albert H., being the only child now (1891), 
living. He was a member of Embury Street, M. E. Church 
at Central Falls, R. I. Captain Lamb was also a member of 
St. John's Lodge of A. F. and A. M., at Newport, R. I , and 
Tower Post, No. 17, Grand Army of Republic, Pawtucket. 
He had been first lieutenant and captain of Tower Light 
Battery, of Pawtucket. 

His funeral was conducted by Union Lodge of Masons, 
Waldo Trescott, W. M., and Tower Post, G. A. R., Vice-Com- 
mander E. VV. Greene. The church was densely crowded 
with friends and relatives. After the sermon by Rev. G. W. 
Ballou, his body was borne to Mohassuck Cemetery and 
interred with Masonic honors. 

His former associates of Tower Light Battery and Tower 
Post kindly volunteered to pay the expense of the excellent 
likeness accompanying this sketch. 

May 31st, forty-seven of the detached men from Battery A, 
New Jersey, who had served with Battery E since the three 
years men had been discharged, were ordered to report to 
that battery. Seven others were also returned to the Fourth 
New York Heavy Artillery. The names of these men will 
be found in the battery register. 

A lieutenant from Battery C and I reported to Lieuten- 
ant Parker with an order permitting him to select seven saddle 
horses for use in that consolidated command. The horses 
were selected with due care, among them being those of 
Lieutenants Humphrey and Lewis. They were glad to know 
that the faithful animals to which they had become greatly 
attached, were to be continued in the service. 

June I St. It was now known that we were soon to be 
ordered home, and we awaited with impatience that happy 
hour. An inventory of the ammunition had been taken on 
the 30th, and we were awaiting orders to turn in the battery 
and horses. In the evening the artillery had another illumi- 
nation, in which Battery E shared as before. 



J865.J FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 443 

June 2d. Our battery and horses were turned in on this 
date, the former into the arsenal at Washington and the 
horses into the corral at Criesboro, three miles south of 
Washington City. Lieutenants Parker and Potter, and the 
writer, with forty-five men, went to deliver the property. 
Lieutenants Parker and Potter, having horses, retiu'ned by 
way of Washington, the men and the writer returned by boat 
to Alexandria, walking from there to camp, which we reached 
at night. 

June 3d. The men were inspected by Captain Lamb who 
assumed formal command, although Lieutenant Parker con- 
tinued to perform the acting duties to the day of muster out, 
except the signing of documents and such other duties as 
only the commanding officers could legally perform. 

Sunday June 4th. The last reveille was sounded at half 
past two A. M. Immediately our tents were struck, the few 
articles needed were packed, and after our appetites had 
been appeased by a charge upon the last army breakfast, 
we broke camp at five o'clock, marched to Washington, 
where we arrived two hours later. Here we waited until after 
six F. M. for transportation, passing the time as best we could. 
At that hour we started for Baltimore where we arrived at 
eleven p. m. At two a. m., on the 5th, the train for Philadel- 
phia moved from the station, arriving at the " Quaker City" 
at eight a. m. Here we were taken to the Soldiers' Associa- 
tion Rooms, and served with an ample breakfast. In the 
afternoon we boarded the cars for New York, arriving in that 
city about midnight. Upon our arrival, by invitation, we 
marched to the Soldiers' State Home, corner Messer and 
Howard Streets, where the larger portion remained all night. 
Quite a number, however, sought lodgings elsewhere. We 
remained all day in New York waiting for the evening boat. 
At four p. M. as ordered, we marched to the wharf, and, 
at five o'clock, the steamer Galatea with the officers and 
men of Battery E on her deck, sailed for Providence. As 
manv of us as could hired staterooms or berths, and had a 
comfortable night's rest. We awoke early with the thought 
of meeting our loved ones at home, and long before reaching 
the wharf the forward deck was crowded with the anxious 
veterans watching, if perchance some dear triends were 
waiting to receive them. 



444 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

At fifteen minutes past six on the morning of the 7th of 
June, the Galatea, amidst the booming of the Marine Artil- 
lerv, landed at Fox Point with the veterans of Battery E. 
FoVty-four months and a half before the battery had left the 
same wharf under the firing of a like salute. The history of 
those long eventful months has been portrayed within the 
pages of this narrative, with what success it is for the reader 
to judge. What followed after the landing can best be told 
by quoting from the evening papers, the report of our 
arrival : 

" The Return of Battery E. 

" Anotlier of our batteries arrived home tiiis morning in the Qahiteii. 
The battery left Washington Sunday night. It numbers one hundred and 
forty men and is officered as follows : Capt. Jacob H. Lamb; Lieutenants 
E. K Parker, E. A. Chandler and H. Potter. Lieutenants George Hum- 
phre}', George Lewis, and William S. Blair, accompany this batteiv. They 
originally belonged to it but were assigned to other batteries. The sudden 
close of the war, however, leaves them with their old comrades. Battery 
E went into the field September, iS6i, and has been in nearly all the bat- 
tles of the Armj' of the Potomac since. Only about twenty-five [22] of the 
original men returned. These noble veterans present an unusually hardy 
and robust appearance. They were received at Fox Point bj- a salute from 
the Marine Artillerj' and escorted by the Burnside Zouaves to Wasiiing- 
ton Hall where a bountiful collation was spread by Humphreys, after 
which they were dismissed until Saturday morning." 

The names of the twenty-two original members referred 
to above are as follows : Capt. Jacob H. Lamb, Lieutenants. 
Edward A. Chandler, Geo. Humphrey, Geo. Lewis, and Wm. 
S. Blair ; Ouartermaster-Sergt. Benj. N. Remington, Corpo- 
rals Wm. Torpy, Jerahmeel Dexter and John McAlees ; 
Artificer Henry C. Wightman ; Privates, Geo. F. Lord, Philip 
A. Dexter, Henry Binn.s, Almy M. Brownell, Adelbert A. 
Fairbanks, Wm. Smith, Richard Russell, John Riley, Emory 
W. Marble, Nelson Lovell, Michael C. Hughes, and John R. 
Bray ton. 

After our dismissal most of the men went home and re- 
mained until the loth. On that date they reported as ordered, 
but the roll not being completed the company was again dis- 
missed until Wednesday the 14th. In the meantime, the 
muster-out rolls were being completed by Wm. Whittemore, 
the company clerk, (J uarter master Remington, Corporal 
Gerber, the writer, and others. At the appointed time the 
company again assembled and were formally mustered out 



1865.] FIRST K. I. LIGHT ARTILLERV. 445 

of service at the City Hall. The pay rolls not being ready 
the men were dismissed, for the third time, until Friday, the 
i6th, to meet at the Fall River Iron Works building on 
South Main Street. Promptly meeting on that day as ordered, 
the members of the battery received their pay. Then fol- 
lowed the farewell greetings and hearty good-byes and the 
men separated, many of whom were nevei" to meet again on 
earth. 

The battery was in the United States service three years, 
eight months, and fourteen days. 

It is no more than just that the following biographical 
sketches should be added to complete the history : 

Walter Otls Barti,ett was one of our first lieutenants. 
He was the son of Otis and Waity (Allen; Bartlett.and was born 
Oct. 18, 1836, in Smithfield, R. I. He was educated at the 
Friends' School in Providence. He learned civil engineer- 
ing and was for some time with Henry M. Walling, He en- 
listed in the First Light Battery of Rhode Island, April 18, 
1 86 1, and was mustered as quartermaster-sergeant May 2d. 
He served through the term of that battery, and was mus- 
tered out Aug. 6, 1 86 1. 

Sept. 28, 1861, he was commissioned first lieutenant in Bat- 
tery E, commanding the right section until January 31st, 
when he received a commission dated Jan. 24, 1862, which 
assigned him as captain to Battery B, of Rhode Island. He 
commanded that battery in the siege of Yorktown and the 
battles of Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, and 
Malvern Hill. He resigned Aug. 19, 1862. After leaving 
the army service he was, for a while, a partner with W. A. 
Griswold in the Providence Lead Works. "After this," 
writes his sister, Mrs. John D. Brown, "Captain Bartlett was 
for some years in commercial business in San Domingo, but 
left that place on account of the unsettled state of the gov- 
ernment and went into Belize in British Central America, 
where he engaged in the business of raising tropical fruits, 
and where, after two years, he fell a victim to the fever of the 
country, and died June 24, 1883. His remains were brought 
to this country and interred with those of his ancestors in 
North Smithfield, R. I. 



446 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, LJi>'ie, 

He was married at Puerto Plata, San Domingo, Oct. 2, 
1875, to Sophie Pickwood, daughter of Robert William Pick- 
wood, magistrate in the island of St. Christopher, under the 
British government, and Louisa Pickwood, daughter of Cecil 
Theodore Northman, solicitor of Huntingford, Hertfordshire, 
England. Walter had three older brothers, Dr. Elisha Bart- 
lett, professor in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 
New York ; George Bartlett, for some years editor of the 
Scientific Ainei'ican ; and William Bartlett, a distinguished 
lawyer in New York. He also left two sisters, Mrs. John D. 
Brown and Mrs. Isaac Brown, both of Providence, R. I. 

William Alisekt Arnold was born in Cranston, R. I., 
Sept. 4, 1830. His father, John W. Arnold, was a blacksmith 
and farmer. His mother was Hannah P. (Waite) Arnold, sister 
to the wife of Gen. Charles T. James, formerly United States 
senator from Rhode Island. When he was about ten years 
old his mother moved to Newburyport, Mass., where he was 
a pupil in the public and a private school. After living 
a few years in Gloucester, N. J., and Reading, Pa., he re- 
turned to Rhode Island, where he had charge of the spinning- 
department in the Atlantic Delaine Mill at Olneyville. 

In 1858 he became bookkeeper for the Gorham Manufac- 
turing Company on North Main Street, Providence. July 
31, 185 1, he married Eliza A., daughter of William and Eliza 
Jewett. He had six children, of whom three are living. 
Early in September, 1861, he offered his services to Governor 
Sprague, who promptly assigned him to Battery E, as first 
lieutenant, and was prominent in the battery during its 
early history. He was severely injured March 28, 1862, near 
Hampton, Va., by his horse rearing and falling backward 
upon him. P'rom the effect of this he was absent in the hos- 
pital and elsewhere until June 24th, rejoining the battery in 
front of Richmond. He participated in the battles of Glen- 
dale and Malvern Hill, and was specially mentioned for dis- 
tinguished bravery in those battles by Captain Randolph in 
his report of these engagements. He was also in the battles 
of Harrison Landing, Second l^ull Run, and Chantilly. 

Dec. 6, 1862, he was commissioned captain of Battery A, 
and assumed command on the battlefield of Fredericksburg 
December 12th, and in that battle and that at Marve's 




Capt. Wm. Albert Arnold. 




Lieut. James F. Allen. 



Lieut. Hezekiah Potter. 



1865. ] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 447 

Heights, May 3, 1863, he handled his batteiy with skill and 
bravery. At Gettysburg his command again distinguished 
itself and lost heavily in both men and horses. 

The action of this battery is a conspicuous feature in the 
famous cyclorama of the Battle of Gettysburg. Captain 
Arnold was in the subsequent battles at Bristoe Station, Octo- 
ber 14th, and Mine Run, Nov. 28, 1863. In the battles of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, and Cold Harbor, 
he maintained his reputation as a commander of high order. 
He returned home with the original three years' men whose 
term had expired, and was mustered out of service June 18, 
1864. August, 1865, he went to Colorado, where he engaged 
in mining and in the public service. In 1886 he went to 
Montreal, where he has since been engaged as bookkeeper 
in the insurance business. 

Lieut. Israel R. Sheldon was the eldest of eleven chil- 
dren, and was born in Providence, R. I., April 7, 1S27. His 
father was Pardon Sheldon, a sea captain, who, soon after Is- 
rael's birth, moved to Pawtuxet, R. I., which place was his home 
during his many sea voyages. His mother was Rebecca W. 
(Aborn) Sheldon, daughter of Jonathan Aborn, of Scituate, 
R. I. Lieutenant Sheldon received his education in the pub- 
lic school of Pawtuxet and at a private school. At the age of 
seventeen, with the consent of his father, he shipped aboard 
a merchant vessel on a voyage to Russia, but was ship- 
wrecked on the coast of Scotland. The vessel went to pieces 
and the crew were obliged to travel on foot to Liverpool, 
from which place they were sent home by the American con- 
sul. After this experience he learned the jeweler's trade, 
and, soon after, formed a partnership with George Turner, 
under the name of I. R. Sheldon & Co. After this firm dis- 
solved he was associated for a while with A. A. Wightman 
in the same business. Jan. 9, 1862, he was commissioned 
second lieutenant and assigned to Battery E, First Regiment 
Rhode Island Light Artillery. He joined the battery near 
Alexandria on the 3i.st of January. He participated in the 
battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, 
Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, Kettle Run, Second Bull 
Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. On the 22d of 
May, 1863, he resigned his commission and returned home. 



448 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, 

After the war he was commissioned captain by brevet. Soon 
after the war he resumed the jewelry business in company 
with Nathan Mathewson and V\^. C. Greene, continuing in the 
same until his death, which occurred March 5, 1885. 

Nov. 4, 1855, he married Alma D. Carder, the only child 
of judge W. Carder, of Pawtuxet. Mrs. Sheldon was educated 
in "the'iDublic schools of Pawtuxet, and at the Warren Ladies' 
Seminary. She was a woman of more than ordinary ability 
and culture. One child was born to them, William H. Shel- 
don, who is also a jeweler. 

Lieut. Hezekiah Potter was born at Pawtucket, R. I., 
July, 1834. He was the son of Christy and Lucy (Smith) 
Potter, who for many years were well known in Providence, 
as citizens of worth and ability. 

Lieutenant Potter was educated in the public schools of 
Providence. Before the war he was engaged in the whole- 
sale grocery business, first with his brother in Syracuse, N. 
Y., and afterward managing the same business for A. & W. 
Sprague with marked success for about five years. Later 
he was connected with William Sheldon in the same business. 

He was mustered into Battery H as a private, August 1 862, 
afterwards reaching the rank of quartermaster-sergeant. In 
that battery he shared the fatigues of its _ constant changes 
until receiving a commission as second lieutenant Oct. 21, 

1864. He was assigned to Battery E, reaching it November 
I ith, and was mustered in the same day. He proved to be an 
excellent officer. He was a man of few words and rather 
exclusive, but not unapproachable to the most humble private. 

His conduct in the service was dignified and courteous. 
Under fire he manifested no bravado, but was cool, self pos- 
sessed and reliable. He participated in the almost dady 
conflicts in the intrench ments before Petersburg, and at the 
final and successful assaults on the enemy's line, April 2d, 

1865. He was mustered out at Providence June 14, 1865. 
After the close of the Rebellion he was employed for 

several years with Hubbard & Aldrich, wholesale grocers, 
in Providence, and since has been employed by several firms, 
some of them in other kinds of business. 

In April, 1855 he was married to Abbie H. Thornton, a 
woman of sprightly intelligence and energy. She was the 



1S65.J FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 449 

daughter of the well-known marketman, Solomon W. Thorn- 
ton. Three daughters was the result of this marriage, only 
two are now (August, 1891,) living, one of whom is married. 
Carrie married Charles H. Eddy long connected with the 
Standard Oil Company. She died July 3, 1891. 

Second Lieutenant Edward A. Chandler was born in 
the town of Warwick, R. I., about 1834. He was the son of 
Allen and Rebecca (Buffington) Chandler. He received the 
ordinary advantages of the district schools of the town of 
Scituate, to which place his parents moved during his early 
years. After his school days he learned the machinist trade 
at Lamphear's Machine Works at Harrisville, Coventry, R. I. 
Here he became an expert workman, being employed in his 
later service as one of the section overseers. In September, 
1 86 1, he responded to the call for loyal soldiers and enlisted as 
a private in Battery E and joined that company when in camp 
near Mashapaug Pond. He accompanied the battery to the 
seat of war, where on the 27th of November, when in camp 
near Alexandria, he had a severe attack of inflammatory 
rheumatism, with which for more than two months he suf- 
fered severely. Improving somewhat by the middle of Feb- 
ruary, he went home on a furlough of twenty-eight days, 
which was extended to a month longer. After its expiration 
he rejoined the battery when near Vorktown, Va., on the 
15th of April, 1862. 

For faithful service he was promoted to the rank of corpo- 
ral on the 2 1 St of November, 1862. At Kelley's Ford, Nov- 
ember 27th, he was slightly wounded in the face by the recoil 
of his gun when sighting it. 

Feb. I, 1864, he re-enlisted, and eight days after he was 
promoted to sergeant, serving with distinction through Gen- 
eral Grant's memorable campaign. October 29th he received a 
commission as second lieutenant bearing the date of Oct. 25, 
1864, assio:ning him to his own battery. During the siege of 
Petersburg he was always prompt and efficient in performing 
his duties. He was mustered out of service with the battery 
June 14, 1865, having well earned the honored rank which 
he had received. After the war he resumed work with the 
same firm he left before he enlisted, where he continued 
until his sudden death which occurred June 5, 1867, while 



450 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

overseeing the setting up of some machinery, at Anthony 
Village, in Coventry, R. I. 

In 1856 he was married to Louisa Williams, a sister of 
Prof. Alonzo Williams, of Brown University, and daughter of 
Thomas and Lydia (Hathway) Williams. They had two 
children, both dying young. His widow a few years after his 
death married J. Russel Pike, of Providence. Lieutenant 
Chandler belonged to Hamilton Lodge, No. 15, A. F. and 
A. M., located at Clayville, in the town of Scituate, R. I. 

In his manner he was plain and direct, never given to 
flattery or pretense. He was warm hearted and generous to 
the deserving. He was a kind neighbor and affectionate 
husband, and as a citizen he was highly respected. 

Lieut. George Humphrey was born in Tiverton, R. I., Dec. 
29, 1839. His father was George Washington Humphrey, 
who was a native of Tiverton, where he passed his life. He 
was a successful farmer. He held various town offices, and, 
for several terms, represented his town in the State legis- 
lature. He was a man of sound judgment whose advice was 
always respected. His mother was Mary Durfee, whose 
family was a representative one of Tiverton. His grand- 
father, Maj. William Humphrey, served through the Revolu- 
tionary War in Colonels Angell and Olney's Rhode Island 
Regiment, and, in 1775, accompanied the command of Bene- 
dict Arnold on his expedition to capture Quebec, being him- 
self captured and held a prisoner for nine months. He was 
a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. 

The subject of this sketch, like the most of farmers' sons, 
worked upon the land during the farming season, and at- 
tended the public school during the winter term. Soon after 
the breaking out of the civil war, although surrounded by the 
comforts of a beautiful home his patriotism and love of coun- 
try demanded the sacrifice of these blessings. After mature 
reflection he decided to enter the artillery service, and en- 
listed early in September, 1861, in Battery E, then recruiting 
at the armory on Benefit Street, Providence. His youthful 
appearance and quiet, modest demeanor, hid, at first, his real 
merit, but good conduct and faithful service soon revealed 
his worth, and, on the ist of August, 1862, he was pro- 
moted to corporal, serving as such until June 10, 1863, 
when he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the second 




Lieut. George Humphrey. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 45 I 

detachment. During the battles of Gettysburg, Kelley's 
Ford, Payne Farm, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spottsylva- 
nia, and Cold Harbor, he commanded his gun with judgment 
and bravery. In the last named battle he was severely 
wounded in the arm, and was sent to Pennsylvania. His 
wound proved slow and difficult to heal, and it was not until 
the next February that he was sufficiently recovered to re- 
turn to his battery, which he joined at Fort Wadsworth on 
the 20th of that month. One week after his return he was 
promoted to first sergeant, but owing to a deficiency of offi- 
cers he was ordered to act as chief of section, and so con- 
tinued to act (except for a few days) until receiving his com- 
mission as second lieutenant on the 6th of April, 1865. ^^ 
was not mustered in, however, as the regimental commander, 
owing to the scattered condition of the several batteries, 
which made it impossible to ascertain where the vacancies 
existed in time for him to do so before the artillery was or- 
dered to be mustered out of service. 

Soon after his discharge in June, 1865, he went west, re- 
maining only two months, then returning to Rhode Island, 
and, after a course of studies, he graduated from Schofield's 
Commercial College. In March, 1866, he entered the em- 
ploy of Henry T. Root as bookkeeper and salesman in a 
house-furnishing establishment, where he remained until June, 
1879. I'^ October following he started the same business on 
his own account, first in Music Hall building on Westminster 
Street, then, in March, 1882, he moved to Hoppin Home- 
stead building on same street, where he still (1892) remains, 
doing a large and successful business. 

On the 17th of December, 1868, he was married to Har- 
riet Webber Dawley, of Fall River. One son was born to 
them in January, 1873, but died in the following August. 
This happy union continued until the 4th of September, 1875, 
when this devoted companion died. In January, 1877, he 
married, for his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Gardiner) Shat- 
tuck, daughter of the late Hon. Peleg Gardiner, a widely 
known and worthy citizen of Providence. Mrs. Shattuck was 
the widow of Warrell Shattuck, of the late firm of Potter & 
Shattuck, jewelers. She is possessed of considerable wealth 
and is highly esteemed for her many excellent qualities. Mr. 
Humphrey has become widely known as a prudent and sue- 



452 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

cessful business man, possessing the qualities of a true gen- 
tleman. He has the best wishes of all his old comrades and 
friends for a long and successful future. 

It was not at first the author's intention to have inserted a 
biographical sketch of his uneventful life, but the Publication 
Committee and other members of the battery not approving 
of its omission, the following sketch appears : 

George Lewis was born near Summit, in the town of 
Coventry, R. I., Nov. i, 183 1. His grandfather was Ben- 
jamin Lewis, well known to the citizens of Coventry as a 
successful miller and farmer. His second son, Benoni E., the 
father of the subject of this sketch, in early life was a farmer, 
but afterwards became a carpenter and builder, doing business 
mainly in the villages of Phenix, Harrisville, Ouidnick, and 
Anthony. The excellent mother of George Lewis was Sarah 
Hawkins, the only daughter of the Hon. George and Martha 
(Stone) Hawkins. Martha Stone was a graduate of an acad- 
emy, and was sister of the late venerable Rev. Richard C. 
Stone, " who, with each of his nine children," says the 
Bunker Hill (111.) Gazette, "have taught yearly in high 
schools, colleges, and universities, from two to thirty-one 
years each." 

His grandfather Hawkins in early life passed through the 
subordinate military ranks till he held a major's commission. 
He was a representative in the General Assembly from 18 19 
to 1829, and senator from May, 1829, to 1831. For over forty 
years he was deacon in the Rice City Christian Church, of 
Coventry, R. I. 

In early youth Mr. Lewis attended the public schools at Rice 
City, in Coventry, and at Sterling, Conn. In March, 1841, his 
parents moved to the Crompton Mills, in Warwick, R. I. Here 
George, at the age of nine years, entered the cotton mill as a 
back piecer in the mule room, at one dollar per week, working 
from sunrise until sunset in summer, and until eight p. m. in 
winter. From these long and cruel hours of labor he was 
relieved in the spring of 1842, going then to live with his 
Uncle Philip P. Hawkins, in Coventry, with whom he lived 
one year, working in the meantime in his uncle's shingle mill 
and on his farm, except in the winter months, when he 
attended the public school. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 453 

In 1S43 h^ lived with his grandfather Lewis, working 
during the farming season, and attending the winter term of 
school. In April, 1844, his parents having moved to the town 
of Johnston, R. I., he returned home, and, during eight months 
of the following three years he was employed in the print- 
works then owned by Abbott & Bliss, the latter being the 
father of Col. Zenas R. Bliss, of the Seventh Rhode Island 
Regiment. During the winter months of these three years 
Lewis again attended school at Rice City, boarding with his 
grandfather, with whom he remained during the farming 
season of 1847. The following winter he boarded with his 
Aunt Rice upon an adjoining farm, attending the same 
school. 

About the first of April, 1848, at the age of sixteen years, 
Lewis was apprenticed for three years to his uncle, Jason 
Lewis, then of Pheni.x, to learn the carpenter's trade. He was 
to have besides his compensation, four months' schooling 
during each winter. After serving about one-half of his 
time he left his uncle's employ and entered that of his father, 
who .had commenced the same business, continuing with him 
most of the time until the summer of 1852, working mainly 
at Harrisville, Ouidnick, and Anthony villages. During the 
winter following the first season of apprenticeship, Mr. Lewis 
attended his last term at school, boarding again with his 
Aunt Rice. 

In September, 1852, he moved to Providence, and worked 
for several firms until the spring of 1854 He was then em- 
ployed by Cyrus T. Eddy & Company, with whom he contin- 
ued the greater portion of the time until September, 1861. 

Mr. Lewis being a radical Abolitionist, although deeply 
interested in the success of the Union army, did not choose 
to enlist until convinced that the war would result in the over- 
throw of the brutal slave system. When being convinced of 
that probable result he promptly enlisted, chposing for his 
comrades the brave men of Battery E. He entered the 
service as a private, Sept. 24, 1861, reaching the rank of 
second lieutenant, and was mustered out of service June 
14, 1865, having served in all the battles in which his battery 
was engageci. 

After the close of the war Lieutenant Lewis resumed 
work for the same firm with whom he was employed when 



454 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

enlisting, continuing with them until February, 1866. He 
then went to Worcester, Mass., where he was employed as 
foreman in the carpenter shop of the " Earle Stove Company." 
That company not succeeding in business closed their works 
on the 24th of June, 1869. On the 14th of July following, 
Mr. Lewis entered the employ of Spicers & Peckham, the 
widely known and successful stove founders of Providence, 
R. I., with whom he still (1892) remains, having had charge 
of their carpenter shop for over twenty-two 3^ears. 

Lieutenant Lewds was married Nov. 9, 185 1, to Sarah, 
sister of the late Daniel and Alexander Tonge, the well 
known musicians of Rhode Island. Mrs. Lewis in her younger 
years possessed some musical talent, being at one time a 
chorister of the church choir at Ouidnick Village, Coventry, 
R. I. She has been a faithful wife and devoted mother. 
Three sons have been born to them : the youngest, Wendell 
W., born July 6, 1858, dying in infancy. The oldest, 
Everett Channing, was born Sept. 10, 1853. He is an ex- 
cellent mechanic and designer, and at present is head draughts- 
man in the Wardwell Sewing Machine Works at Woonsocket, 
R. I. He is also a singer and reader of some note. He mar- 
ried M. Emma Cole, a woman of fine culture, by whom he has 
had a daughter and one son, both of whom are bright and 
promising children. 

Myron Seaver was born Feb. 3, 1855. After he and his 
brother left the High School of Providence, he learned the 
book-binding business, but for many years he has been a 
casemaker at Gorham Manufacturing Company, of Provi- 
dence, R. I. He married Mrs. Laura B. Wood, a very excel- 
lent woman, who died June 8, 1889, leaving a babe three 
months old named Myron W. Lewis. This lovely babe, the 
pet < f its grandparents, with whom it lived, died at the age of 
eighteen months and twenty-three days. Two daughters of 
his wife by a former husband died also. The first, Addie L. 
Wood, died Jan. 7, 1888, aged thirteen years ; Viola D. 
Wood, died June 18, 1889, ten days after her mother, aged 
seventeen years, making four deaths in his family within two 
years and nine months. Myron is a vice-commander and 
prominent member of the Sons of Veterans. Both of the sons 
are highly respected by a large circle of friends. 




Lieut. George Lewis 

(AT CLOSE OF WAR ) 





1st Sergt. William E. Bowen. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 455 

Lieutenant Lewis at the age of eighteen joined the Order 
of the Sons of Temperance, in which he is a Past Worthy- 
Patriarch, being also a member of the Grand Division. He 
is also a member of Burnside Council of the Order of United 
Friends, of which he is Chief Counselor. 

He belongs to Slocum Post, No. lo, Grand Army of the 
Republic, and is also a member of Hope Lodge, No. 49, of the 
Order of Tonti, of Providence. During the early history of the 
Republican party, he was an active and zealous worker in that 
party, sympathizing strongly with its prohibition element, 
being occasionally a delegate to its conventions. He held 
no office except that of city committee. Lieutenant Lewis 
has been a constant reader of books and the general liter- 
ature of the age, and is deeply interested in all reformatory 
and humanitarian movements. 

In early life he joined the Orthodox church, and was a 
zealous defender of its tenets. But after years of anxious 
study and the reading of many authors he became a rational- 
ist. He was one of the first to join the Free Religious Asso- 
ciation of the United States, and was one of the original 
members of the Free Religious Society of Providence, being for 
many years a member of its executive committee, and since 
1879 l^3.s been its treasurer. He is also connected with the 
Religious Society of Bell Street Chapel. He was Chairman 
of the Executive Committee of the National Liberal League 
of America for the State of Rhode Island while that organi- 
zation was under the presidency of Francis E. Abbot, from 
July, 1876, to 1879. He belongs also to the Woman Suffrage 
Association, having been a believer in its claims from early 
manhood. He is a member of the Soldiers' and Sailors' His- 
torical Society of Rhode Island, and a vice-president of the 
First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Veteran Asso- 
ciation. Lieutenant Lewis was selected by his comrades to 
write a history of Battery E. That he has labored faithfully 
to accomplish that objecc to the best of his ability no one 
cognizant of his persistent labors will deny. 

Lieut. William S. Blair was the son of James and 
Isabella (Biggar) Blair, of Scotland. William was born 
April 15, 1843. Wheii he was four years old his parents 
came to the United States and settled in Providence, where 



456 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

he attended the ])ubhc schools, leaving the High School 
about 1859. His first employment was assisting his father at 
blacksmithing. He enlisted in Battery E as a private in Sep- 
tember, 1 861. He served as assistant blacksmith from April 
6th to September, 1863. His faithful services earned for him 
a corporal's rank Sept. 9, 1863. He re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863. 
Nov. 5, 1864, he was promoted to sergeant, serving until 
May 20, 1865, when he received a second lieutenant's com- 
mission dated May i6th, upon which was endorsed " pro- 
moted for meritorious mention as best soldier in the brigade." 
Two weeks after he was assigned to Battery F, of Rhode 
Island. Owing to an order for the artillery to be mustered 
out of service he was not able to be mustered in. By per- 
mission of Brevet-General Hazard he was allowed to remain 
in his old battery and returned home with it. He was 
mustered out of service, June 14, 1865. 

After being mustered out he entered the employ of the 
Burnside Rifle Works for a short time, and afterwards en- 
gaged in the grocery business until about 1868. For several 
years after this he was not located permanently but finally 
settled in Portsmouth, N. H., where he is the proprietor of 
a large boarding hotel. He married Mary A. Grover, by 
whom he has had three children. 

First Sergt. William E. Bowex was Born in Rehoboth, 
Mass., March 2, 1834. His parents were William Bradford 
Bovven and Hannah Boyd Miller, the mother being the daugh - 
ter of Amos Miller. About 1838 his parents moved to Prov- 
idence, R. I., where William received his education in the 
public schools and worked his way through Brown Univer- 
sity, graduating in the class of 1859. After leaving col- 
lege he engaged in the refining business, the firm being 
Burt & Bowen, but owing to ill health he was soon obliged 
to give up that business. Soon after he went to Racine, 
Wis., being engaged there as principal in the High School, 
where he continued until the summer of 1861, when he re- 
turned to Rhode Island. September, 1861, he enlisted as 
first sergeant in Battery E, First Regiment, Rhode Island 
Light Artillery, serving with marked ability and patriotism 
uncil his health again failed him, and he was discharged 
March 14, 1862, oh surgeon's certificate. After remaining 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 457 

at home a short time he went to Chicago and engaged in 
mercantile busines for a few years, then returned home and 
studied law with the Hon. Benjamin N. Lapham of Provi- 
dence. Just as he was ready to be admitted to the bar he 
was offered the position of Assistant Professor of Ethics and 
English studies at the United States Naval Academy, at 
Annapolis. Md., which he accepted April 9, 1868. Here he 
remained for a few years when his health failed him , he 
again returned home where he remained until his death, 
Aug. 20, 1886. He was brother to Amos M. Bowen, the well 
known insurance president and highly esteemed citizen of 
Providence, R. I. 

Quartermaster Sergt. Benja:\iin N. Remington was born 
in Cranston, R. I., April 12, 1825. His father was Daniel T. 
Remington. His mother's maiden name was Alice Stevens. 
He received his educatiou in the Cranston district schools, in 
which he was more than an average scholar. During the early 
years of his manhood he worked mostly at farming. May 
I, 1849, ^""^ entered the employ of Earl Carpenter, the well 
known ice dealer, with whom he remained until the summer 
of 1 86 1, when he enlisted as a private in Battery E, and was 
mustered into the United States service Sept. 30, 1861. 

For the first twenty months he served as a private, gener- 
ally as a driver, but his unusual ability marked him for a 
higher rank, and when Quartermaster Sergt. C. A. Brown 
received his commission Remington was promoted over all 
the non-commissioned officers to fill the vacancy. His war- 
rant bore the date of April 14, 1863. He re-enlisted Dec. 21, 
1863, and continued to act as quartermaster sergeant until 
the close of the war, except for a few weeks in March and 
April, 1864, when he was on detached service in Rhode 
Island as recruiting officer. 

Quartermaster Remington was very efficient in his duties. 
In battle he was always brave and showed the valor of a 
true soldier. After the battery returned to Providence he was 
largely relied upon by Captain Lamb to adjust his accounts 
with the government. These being- completed he was mus- 
tered out of service June 14, 1865. For four or five years 
after his discharge he was employed at various kinds of 
work. After this he was employed for about four years by 



458 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

the Union Ice Company. He then began business on his 
own account as a house and carriage painter. In 1846 he 
married EHza Larose, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (John- 
son) Larose. Four children were born to them, of which only 
one son and one daughter are now (1892) living. He has never 
been connected with any societies or orders, and has passed 
his time mostly at home with his family. 

First Sergt. Charles S. Winslow was born in Taunton, 
Mass., Jan. 13, 1838. When he was two years of age his 
parents moved to Foxboro, Mass., then to Providence in 
i860. His parents were Simmons and Ruth Tabor (Bennett) 
Winslow. After devoting several years to his education he 
became teamer for John D. Cranston, of Providence, working 
for him until September, 1861, when he enlisted as a private 
in Battery E, then recruiting at Providence. Being a teamer 
he was made a driver at first, but showing qualities for a 
higher rank he was promoted to a corporal March 14, 1862, 
and to sergeant in October following. June i, 1863, he was 
promoted to first sergeant. He was in all the battles in 
which his battery was engaged, manifesting always the quali- 
ties of a good soldier. At the great battle of Gettysburg he 
commanded the center section. While the battery was leav- 
ing the field he was severely wounded in the back and was 
sent to the hospital where he remained until he was transferred 
to the Veteran Reserve Corps at Washington, D. C, Feb. 
I, 1864. Previous to being sent to the Veteran Reserve Corps 
he had been granted a furlough to visit his home at Provi- 
dence. While there he was commissioned second lieutenant 
by the governor and assigned to the Fourteenth Rhode 
Island Regiment of colored troops. On presenting himself 
for examination at Washington he failed to pass on account 
of physical disability, hence his assignment to the Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps. He was mustered out Sept. 30, 1864. 
After the war he was bookkeeper for the Providence and 
Worcester Railroad Company at their freight depot, where he 
remained until failing health compelled him to give up work. 
He died of consumption Dec. 30, 1873. His death was 
hastened, doubtless by the wound received at Gettysburg. A 
few years before the war he married Cornelia Anna Bennett, 
daughter of Bela W. P. and Clarissa G. (Brown) Bennett, 





1st Sergt. Charles S. Winslow. 



Quartermaster Sergt. 
Benj. N. Remington. 




Sergt. John Slocum. 




Corpl. Francis B. Butts. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 459 

and sister of Lieut. Herbert F. Bennett. They had four 
children, of whom only two daughters are living. Both are 
married. Sergeant Winslow belonged to Mount Vernon 
Lodge, No. 4, A. F. and A. M., and to the Odd Fellows of 
Kinderhook, N. Y. 

Sergt. John Slocum was born Nov. 30, 1838, in North 
Kingstown, R. L His father was Rev. William R. Slocum, a 
well-known Baptist clergyman in Kent County, R. I. His 
mother was Harriet K. Capron. Before he was nine years 
old he was put into a cotton mill, but later he worked on a 
farm. What schooling he received was at irregular periods, 
mostly in Exeter, to which place his parents moved in 1847, 
At the age of eighteen he was married to Susan Pratt, 
daughter of Amasa and Elizabeth (Wright) Pratt. August, 
1862, he enlisted in Battery E, and was mustered in on the 
13th. He joined the battery when it was near Alexandria, 
Sept. 4, 1862. He soon won the confidence of his com- 
manding officer and the esteem of his comrades. His cool- 
ness in battle was remarkable. At the battle of Gettysburg- 
he was mounted orderly for Lieutenant Bucklyn, and when 
that gallant officer was wounded he found in Slocum a 
trusted and faithful friend. To his watchful care during the 
night after the battle Lieutenant Bucklyn is more indebted 
for his speedy recovery than to any other cause, and for this 
he has often expressed his gratitude. 

,Feb. 8, 1864, he was promoted to a corporal, and acted as 
gunner during the summer of Grant's campaign. Oct. 20, 
1864, he was promoted to sergeant to date from October 4th. 
He served as sergeant during the remaining months of the 
war and was mustered out of service June 14, 1865. 

Notwithstanding his limited education, by making life a! 
study he has acquired much valuable information and is 
looked upon as a man of more than ordinary ability and judg- 
ment. Since the war he has devoted himself mostly to 
farming. He has held various offices in the town of Exeter, 
among them being town councilman ; town sergeant ; con- 
stable, overseer of the poor, and other offices of less note. He 
is highly esteemed by his townsmen as an officer and worthy 
citizen. 

Sergt. John Cuxxixgham enli.sted from Philadelphia and 
was mustered into the service Jan. 1, 1863. He, with four- 



460 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

teen others, reported to the battery January loth, under 
Chaplain John A. Perry, All deserted with the exception of 
Charles E. Baker and Cunningham. Cunningham was a 
southern man by birth, and, for more security, should he be 
taken prisoner, he assumed this name, his correct name being 
Hamilton. Nothing is known of his history before or since 
the war, save that he was last known to be in Fall River. 
He was a man of good ability and a brave and reliable 
soldier. 

Sergt. Otto Wilder was mustered into the service July 
6, 1863, and joined the battery August 8th, when it was near 
Bealton Station, Va. He was a born soldier and had served 
in the Prussian army before coming to the United States. 
He was made a corporal Feb. 19, 1864; a sergeant Oct. 20, 
1864, to date from October 4th. 

He was on detached service as sergeant in the ambulance 
corps from March 18, 1865, to June 4th, when he returned to 
the battery. He was mustered out of service June 14, 1865. 
He was a brave, loyal, and generous soldier. 

Sergt. Samuel W. Austin was detached from the Third 
Maine Regiment in May, 1863. He re-enlisted into Battery E 
Oct. 23, 1863 ; was promoted to corporal December i ith, and 
to sergeant Feb. 27, 1865. He was a faithful and brave 
officer. Since the war he has married and settled as a farmer 
in Aroostook County, Maine. 

Amasa A. and Seth B. Darling were both sergeants 
in the battery, the latter acted as first sergeant for more than 
seven months, when, by his own request, he was reduced to the 
ranks. They were brothers, and both were worthy to have 
been continued as sergeants. They, like many other excel- 
lent soldiers, were the victims of circumstances and of their 
own peculiar traits of character, which in no way invalidate 
their merits as worthy soldiers. 

They were the sons of Artemus and Lorinda (Taft) Dar- 
ling. Both were born in Millville, Mass. Amasa A., May 20, 
1835 ; Seth B., in February, 1837. They received their edu- 
cation in the public schools of their native town, l^efore the 
war Amasa worked at the Gorham Manufacturing establish- 
ment. Providence, and after the war at the Waltham Watch 
Company, Waltham, Mass., until his healtli failed. The 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 46 1 

latter part of his life was passed at the Soldiers' Hospital, 
Charlestown, Mass., where he died Nov. 30, 1888. He was 
never married. His merit as a soldier has been referred to 
elsewhere and need not be repeated here. He was a social 
and genial comrade and will long be remembered by a host 
of friends as an upright and esteemed citizen. 

Seth was by trade a jeweler, and worked before and after the 
war at North Attleboro, Mass. In 1866 he married Orinda 
Sweet. About two years after his marriage, he died of a 
disease of the brain in the Insane Hospital at Taunton, Mass. 
His death occurred Sept. 15, 1868. Seth was unlike his 
brother Amasa, being less social and more reserved. He was, 
however, a good soldier and honored citizen. 

Space will not permit the insertion of the many deserved 
biographical sketches of the corporals, but the active interest 
manifested by Corporal Butts in the battery and his partici- 
pation in all that pertains to the welfare of Rhode Island 
soldiers, as well as his general usefulness as a citizen, 
demands that a brief sketch of his life should be given. 

Francis B. Butts was born in Providence, Jan. 27, 1844. 
He was the son of John W. Butts, the well known hat mer- 
chant of Providence. His mother- was Mehitable (Went- 
worth) Butts. Frank, as he is familiarly called by his com- 
rades, is of the ninth generation from the emigrant Thomas 
Butts, a member of the Plymouth Colony. At the breaking 
out of the Rebellion Francis was a pupil in the public 
schools of Providence, and although but seventeen years 
of age he was one of the first to enlist in Battery E, First 
Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, beuig mustered as 
a corporal Sept. 30, 1S61. He participated in the siege of 
Yorktown, where he received his first baptism of fire. He 
was present at Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, where his battery 
was in position. In front of Richmond, Charles City Cross 
Roads, Malvern Hill, and Harrison Landing, he served his 
gun with valor. While in the Penmsula, he, with many of 
his brave comrades, became victims of the malarial fever, and 
on the 6th of August, 1862, he was sent to the field hospital, 
and later to a general hospital in Philadelphia. During his 
stay at the latter, permission was granted to recruit the navy 
from the soldiers in the army. This opportunity he accepted, 



462 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

and enlisted as a seaman Oct. 5, 1862. He was promoted 
through several grades and participated in several naval 
engagements, and was one of the survivors of the famous 
Ericsson battery Monitor foundered at sea near midnight 
Dec. 30, 1862. He was mustered out of service June 17, 
1865, having been in the United States service about forty- 
five months. 

Dec. 25, 1866, he married Helen, daughter of Horace and 
Adeline (Work) Battey, of Scituate, R. I. A promising son, 
Frank H., born May 17, 1873, died Dec. 30, 1891. Alice, 
born Jan. 8, 1870, alone remains to comfort them in their 
advancing years. Since the war he has been engaged in pro- 
vision and manufacturing business, excepting for a period 
from 1878 to 1887, when he held the government position of 
Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. He was appointed 
postmaster of East Providence by President Harrison, Oct. i, 
1891. 

He is the author of several valuable papers, some of which 
have been read before the Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical 
Society, of Providence, and published in its archives. 

He is a member of several army and naval societies, in 
which he has held many responsible positions, and for the 
last ten years has been secretary and treasurer of the First 
Rhode Island Light Artillery Veteran Association, in which 
he has labored earnestly to preserve its war history. 

During the larger portion of his life he has lived in Prov- 
idence, and East Providence, and is widely known as an hon- 
orable citizen. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



463 



APPENDIX. 



The following table is compiled from the roster of the 
battery. It is probable that more than seven died of wounds, 
as the diseases with which some of the men died may have 
been caused bv their wounds : 



othei" comnian 

ps 



cis, 



Killed, 

Died of wounds, 

Wounded once, 

Wounded twice, 

Died of poison. 

Died of disease, 

Discharged on surgeon's certificate, 

Deserted, 

Resigned, . , 

Discharged to accept promotion in 

Transferred to Veteran Reserve Cor 

Transferred to other batteries, 

Promoted from other batteries. 

Joined from infantry. 

Transferred to navv, 

Transferred from other batteries. 

No record of muster out, 

Discharged by war department, 

Dropped from rolls, . 

Enrolment belonging to battery, 

Detached men on permanent service in the batter 

*Detached men on temporary service, names unknown. 

Total number of men serving in battery, . 



/ 

4 



53 
38 



10 

7 
6 

9 
3 

ID 

2 

4 
377 
108 

43 

528 



The following members of the battery, besides those given 
elsewhere, have died since being discharged : 

Corp. William Torphy died in New York city, Nov. 19, 
1883. 
Corp. Jerahmeel Dexter died Jan. 20, 1874. 
Corp. Samuel Havens died suddenly March 31, 1889. 
Lance Corp. Luther L. Young died June i, 1876. 
Henry C. Wightman, artificer, died Nov. 16, 1874. 

* Twenty-five of these were from the Second and Ninth New York Heavy Artillery and 
eighteen from the First Delaware Cavalry. 



464 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

George F. Lord died Sept. 9, 1880. 

Jeremiah Bennett died after discharge, April 2, 1864. 

Thomas H. Potter died after discharge, May 11, 1863. 

Bartholomew Fitzgerald, no date of death found. 

Michael C. Hughes died Oct. 21, 1872. 

Stephen W. Corp died Dec. 24, 1866. 

Squire B. Tucker died May 28, 1882. 

Henry Allen, no date of death given. 

Samuel Hanney, Jr.., died Nov. 13, 1887. 

Nathan J. Coon, no date of death given. 

John Jordan died 1887. 

Thomas Nolan died April 23, 1879. 

Adelbert A. Fairbanks killed by train on railroad, Aug. 11, 
1887. 

Richard Rose, no date of death given. His name is on the 
tablet in memorial building in Bristol, R. I. 

John Ryan, no date of death given. 

James Mulligan died Feb. 24, 1889. At the time of his 
death he was postmaster at Central Falls. 

Samson Burgess died April 16, 1886. 

William C. Winslovv, brother of Sergeant Winslow, died 
June 24, 1876. 

Lance Corp. John McAlees died July 14, 1889. 

John F. Keegan died in the Rhode Island Hospital Feb. 
13, 1891. 

William H. Bailey died after term expired, Oct. 18, 1864. 

Frederick L. Burden died Feb. 23, 1890. He enlisted in 
Battery E, Sept. 30, 1861, at the age of fourteen years, and 
was discharged for disability March 6, 1862. May 26, 1862, 
he was mustered into the Tenth Battery and was mustered 
out with that battery Aug. 30, 1862. He then studied medi- 
cine, graduating from the Harvard Medical School at the age 
of twenty-one, and settled in North Attleboro, Mass., gain- 
ing a large practice. In 1883-4 he was State senator. In 
1885 he was chosen a member of the State Central Com- 
mittee, becoming its chairman in 1886, which he held for 
three years. He was a candidate for nomination to Con- 
gress but was defeated by a few votes. He was chosen a del- 
egate to the convention at Chicago which nominated Har- 
rison for president, and afterwards became a candidate for 
collector of the port of Boston. During the contest he was 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 465 

stricken with an attack of apoplexy which made it necessary 
for him to withdraw from the contest. He was prominent in 
the Orders of Masons and Odd Fellows, and a member of 
Whiting Post 192, Grand Army of the Republic, of North 
Attleboro. His funeral was attended by many distinguished 
persons from all over the State. 

Undoubtedly there are many more whose death and where- 
abouts are unknown. 

The Soldiers' and Sailors' monument erected upon Ex- 
change Place, Providence, R. I., and dedicated Sept. 16, 
187 1, has engraved upon it the names of the following thirty 
members of Battery E, who were killed or died of disease 
during the war : 

Lieut. Joseph S. Milne, Corps. John B. Mathewson, Albert 
H. Trescott, Lemuel S. Greene and Ernest Simpson. Pri- 
vates William Beard, John Brannan, William H. Bailey, Jer- 
emiah Bennett, Albert N. Colwell, John Colvin, George W. 
Fisk, Edward Galvin, Joseph Harrop, George Higgins, 
William H. King. Marvin M. Leavens, Charles Moore, 
William Mason, Edward McCaffrey, Lewis A. Medbury, Ed- 
win A. Matteson, Malon H. Morris, James F. Pratt, Elisha 
E. Potter, Richard Rose, Crawford A. Sayles, John Slavin, 
Robert Sutcliffe, and Cornelius Sullivan. 

Besides these there were four detached men killed and 
mortally wounded whose names are not on the monument. 
Their names were Alvin Hilton, John Beadle, Frank Martin, 
and John Zinn. Lieutenant Milne had, before being mortally 
wounded, been promoted to another battery. 

The names of Thomas H. Potter and Thomas Shaw are 
not, but should have been, upon the monument. 
30 



466 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



The following list of remarkable losses is taken from the 
work of William F. Fox, entitled Regimental Losses. It em- 
braces every instance in which a battery lost twenty or more 
killed and wounded in any one action during the last war, the 
mortally wounded being included with the wounded. The 
missing in these batteries, ranging from one to fifty-four, are 
omitted. To this list is added batteries losing less than 
twenty, but it is not claimed they are the only ones losing an 
equal number. 









"^ 












:S 


S 


^ 


Synonym. 


Battery. 


Battle. 


^ 


1;^ 


^ 
^ 


Sands', 


nth Ohio, 


luka, 


16 


35 


51 


Seeley's, 


*K, 4th U. S., 


Chancellorsville, 


7 


3S 


45 


Campbell's, 


*B, 4th U. S., 


Antietam, 


9 


3£ 


40 


Cushing's (A H), 


A, 4th U. S., 


Gettysburg, 


6 


32 


38 


Stewart, 


B, 4th U. S., 


Gettysburg, 


2 


31 


33 


Sanger's, 


E, 3d U. S., 


Olustee, 


II 


22 


33 


Burnham's, 


H, i^thU. S., 


Chickamauga, 


13 


18 


31 


Arnold's, 


*A, ist R. I., 


Gettysburg, 


3 


28 


31 


Wood's, 


A, istlU., 


Shiloh, 


4 


26 


30 


Burrows', 


14th Ohio, 


Shiloh, 


4 


26 


30 


Parsons', 


I, 4th U. S., 


Chaplin Hills, 


10 


19 


29 


Randolph's, 


*E, ist R. I., 


Gettysburg, 


3 


■26 


29 


Leppien's, 


t5th Maine, 


Chancellorsville, 


6 


22 


28 


Stevens', 


5th Maine, 


Cedar Creek, 


2 


26 


28 


Rickett's, 


*I, istU. S., 


First Bull Run, 


12 


15 


27 


Adams', 


*G, ist R. I., 


Cedar Creek, 


4 


23 


27 


Brown's, 


B, ist, R. I., 


Gettysburg, 


7 


19 


26 


Rortj's, 


B, istN. Y., 


Gettysburg, 


10 


16 


26 


Bigelow's, 


9th Mass., 


Gettysburg, 


8 


18 


26 


Langdon's, 


M, ist LI. S.. 


Olustee, 


4 


22 


26 


Dillon's, 


6th Wis.. 


Corinth, 


5 


21 


26 


Kern's, 


"^G, ist Penn., 


Manassas, 


3 


23 


26 


Houghtaling's, 


C, ist III., 


Stone River, 


5 


20 


25 


Woodruft"'s, 


I, istU. S., 


Gettysburg, 


I 


24 


25 


Turnbull's, 


FandK, 3d U. S., 


Gettysburg, 


9 


14 


23 


Bush's, 


4th Ind., 


Stone River, 


5 


19 


24 


Adams', 


G, ist R. I., 


Fredericksburg. 


5 


18 


23 


Edgerton's, 


E, 1st Ohio, 


Stone River, 


3 


20 


23 


Cowan's, 


rst N. Y., 


Cedar Creek, 


6 


17 


23 


Cooper's, 


*B, 1st Penn., 


Manassas, 


4 


19 


23 


Bridge's, 


Illinois, 


Chickamauga, 


6 


16 


22 


Cushing's (H C), 


M, 4th U. S., 


Chickamauga, 


5 


17 


22 


Knap's, 


Penn., four guns, 


Wauhatchie, 


3 


19 


22 


Smith's, 


I, 4th U. S., 


Chickamauga, 


I 


21 


22 


Zickerick's, 


i2th Wis., 


Allatoona Pass, 


6 


15 


21 


Dimick's, 


H, istU. S., 


Chancellorsville. 


3 


18 


21 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



467 









^s 


1 


1 

JO 








?s 


^ 


^D 


Synonym. 


Battery. 


Battle. 


^ 


^ 




Simonson's, 


*Sth Ind., 


Stone River, 


3 


18 


21 


Seelej's, 


K, 4th U. S., 


Gettysburg, 


2 


19 


21 


Rickett's, 


F and G, 1st Penn. 


Gettysburg, 


6 


'4 


20 


Haley's, 


1st Maine, 


Cedar Creek, 


3 


7 


20 


Watson's, 


I, 5th U. S., 


Gettysburg, 


I 


9 


20 


Tompkins', 


A, istR. I., 


Antietam, 


4 


15 


19 


Nims's, 


2d Mass., 


Sabine X Roads, 


I 


18 


'9 


Kern's, 


G, 1st Penn., 


Gaines' Mill, 


7 


12 


19 


Cooper's, 


B, ist Penn., 


Seven Days, 


4 


15 


19 


McKnight's, 


M, 5th U. S., 


Cedar Creek, 




17 


19 


Woodbury's, 


M, istN. Y., 


Chancellorsville, 


5 


13 


iS 


Harris", 


19th Ind., 


Chickamauga, 


■^ 


16 


18 


Monroe's, 


D, ist R, I., 


Manassas, 


6 


12 


18 


Belger's, 


F, istR. I., 


Drewry's Bluft", 


3 


14 


'7 


Griffin's, 


D, 5th U. S., 


First Bull Run, 


4 


13 


17 


Mann's, 


Missouri, 


Shiloh, 


3 


14 


17 


Standart's, 


B, 1st Ohio, 


Stone River, 


5 


12 


17 


Rogers', 


19th N. Y., 


Spottsylvania, 


7 


9 


16 


Stevens', 


5th Maine, 


Gettysburg, 


3 


13 


16 


Goodspeed's, 


A, ist Ohio, . 


Chickamauga, 




14 


16 


Bainbridge's, 


A, istU. S., 


Port Hudson, 


3 


13 


16 


Lamb's, 


*C, ist R. [., 


Cedar Creek, 




16 


16 


Andrews', 


F, ist Mich., 


Richmond (Kv.). 


6 


9 


15 


Simonson's, 


5th Ind., 


Chaplin Hillsi" 


2 


13 


15 


Sutermiester's, 


nth Ind., 


Chickamauga. 


3 


12 


15 


Jastram's, 


E, ist R. I., 


Chancellorsville, 




'3 


15 


Weeden's, 


C, ist R. I., 


Malvern Hill, 


4 


II 


15 



The losses in C, Rhode Island, are taken from the Adjutant General's report of that 
State : 

*Appears twice. {Appears three times. 



468 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



The following list of fourteen volunteer light batteries, 
taken also from Fox's Rcgiincntal Losses, gives the largest 
number of killed and dying of wounds during the war: 



Cooper's, B, ist Penn., First Corps, 

Sands', nth Ohio, Seventeenth Corps, 

Phillips', 5th Mass., Fifth Corps, 

Weeden's, C, ist R. I., Fifth and Sixth Corps, 

Cowan's, istN. Y., Sixth Corps, 

Stevens', 5th Maine, First Conps, 

Rickett's, F, ist Penn., First Corps, 

Randolph's, E, ist R. I., Third and Sixth Corps, 

Kerns', G, ist Penn., First Corps, 

Easton's, A, ist Penn., First Corps, 

Pettit's, B, ist N. Y., Second Corps, . 

Bigelow's, 9th Mass., Reserve Artillery, 

Bradburj's, ist Maine, Nineteenth Corps, 

Wood's, A, 1st 111., Fifteenth Corps, . 



21 


men 


20 


men 


19 


men 


19 


men 


18 


men 


18 


men 


18 


men 


17 


men 


17 


men 


17 


men 


16 


men 


15 


men 


1.5 


men 


15 


men 



The loss in the Eleventh Ohio Battery occurred almost 
entirely in one action, nineteen of its men having been killed 
or mortally wounded at luka in a charge on the battery. In 
the other batteries, however, the losses represent a long se- 
ries of battles in which they rendered effective service, and 
participated with honor to themselves and the arm of service 
to which they belonged. 

Among the light batteries of the Regular Army, equally 
heavy losses occurred in the following famous commands : 

B, 4th U. S., known as Gibbon's, or Stewart's. 
K, 4th U. S., known as De Rnssej's, or Seeley's. 

I, 1st U. S., known as Ricketts', Kirby's, or Woodruft''s. 
D, 5th U. S., known as Griffin's, or Hazlitt's. 

C, 5th U. S., known as Seymour's, Ransom's, or Weir's. 
H, 5th U. S., known as Gnnther's, or Burnham's. 

A and C, 4th U. S., known as Hazzard's, or Cushing's, or Thomas's. 



Among the infantry regiments having the largest percent- 
age of loss in killed and mortally wounded are the following 
commands, which served with Battery E in Kearny's or Bir- 
ney's division : 

Third, Fourth, and Seventeenth Maine. 

Fortieth New York, Fifty-seventh, Sixty-third, Ninety- 
ninth, One Hundred and Fifth, and One Hundred and Forty- 
first Pennsylvania, and Twentieth Indiana. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



469 



" The Rhode Island troops," says Fox, in his Regiuiental 
Losses, "became prominent by reason of the fine regiment 
of Hght artillery furnished by the State. The batteries of 
this command were remarkable for their efificiency, and the 
conspicuous part assigned them in all the battles of the Army 
of the Potomac. As a whole, they were unsurpassed, and 
they made a record which reflected credit on their State. A 
comparison of their losses in action with those of other bat- 
teries tells plainly the story of the dangers which they 
braved." 

The same author gives the following as the losses in deaths 
of the Rhode Island troops during the war of 1 861-5 : 







Killed and Died 


Died of 










oy Wounds. 


Disease. 


Totals. 


Battel 


tA, 




13 


5 


18 


" 


B, 




H 


15 


29 


" 


c, 




19 


S 


27 




D, 




10 


12 


22 


" 


E, 




17 


12 


29 


" 


F, 




10 


17 


27 




G, 


' 


10 


iS 


28 


" 


H, 




2 


10 


12 


1st Cavalry, 




17 


79 


96 


2d 


" 




4 


3t 


35 


3d 


" 




8 


139 


H7 


ist Regiment 


, . 


17 


8 


25 


2d 






120 


76 


196 


3d 




h'. a., ." 


41 


94 


135 


4th 






73 


67 


140 


5th 




H. A., . 


9 


no 


119 


7th 






90 


109 


'99 


9th 




3 months, 




4 


4 


loth 




3 




3 


3 


nth 




9 




8 


8 


12th 




9 


12 


45 


57 



Totals, 



486 



870 



1.356 



If we add to these figures the three killed and the 326 dy- 
ing of disease in the Fourteenth Rhode Island (Colored) Regi- 
ment, we have a total of 1,685 deaths in the Rhode Island 
regiments and batteries. 



470 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

The following figures, also from the same author, give the 
number of light batteries from each State serving in the Union 
army,, with their total killed and dying of wounds and dis- 
eases : 

(Fractions of less than one-half are omitted in average, of 
losses.) 



Slate. 


~ to 


k.2 5 

^ ?* -a 


l^-S 


^ . 


■•^, ^ 




^^ 




is 








tses 


era 

uses 
seas 






:!>§ 


i5<§-£ 








,■5 


Maine, 


7 


7 


62 


9 


150 


21 


212 


New Hampshire, 


I 


I 


6 


6 


6 


6 


12 


Vermont, 


3 


2 


4 


T 


125 


41 


129 


Massachusetts, 


16 


•3 


82 


6 


336 


21 


418 


Rhode Island, 


10 


S 


95 


12 


99 


10 


'94 


Connecticut, 


3 


2 


6 


3 


43 


14 


49 


New York, 


45 


36 


245 


7 


914 


20 


1-159 


New Jersej', 


5 


5 


27 


5 


91 


18 


!lS 


Pennsylvania, 


20 


14 


131 


9 


270 


1.3^ 


401 


Delaware, 


I 


I 






6 


6 


6 


Maryland, 


4 


4 


12 


3 


62 


i5i 


74 


West Virginia, 


S 


S 


2,2, 


4 


131 


16 


164 


Ohio, 


36 


31 


1S9 


6 


923 


26 


1,112 


Kentucky, 


5 


4 


19 


5 


7S 


16 


97 


Indiana, 


26 


22 


130 


6 


5 28 


20 


658 


Illinois, 


31 


26 


152 


6 


577 


'9 


729 


jV[ichigan, 


14 


11 


50 


5 


3S4 


27 


434 


Wisconsin, 


13 


ID 


55 


5* 


248 


25 


303 


Minnesota, 


3 


2 


14 


7 


53 


"•"^ 


67 


Iowa, 


4 


3 


16 


5 


I '9 


30 


135 


Kansas, 


5 


3 


7 


2 


60 


20 


67 


Missouri, 


t3S 


37 


*243 


6i 


404 


1 1 


647 


Regular, 


60 


60 


364 


6 


574 


10 


93S 


Totals, 


Xy>f> 


310 


1,942 


6i 


6,. Si 


1 7-^. 


8,123 



• Part of this loss was while serving as infantry. 

jThe number of Union batteries serving- from Missouri is furnished by llic Adjutant- 
General of tliat State. 

I Difterent authors vary as to the total number of batteries in tlic Union army. 



Tennessee had no Union artillery. 




Battery E Monument, 



GETTYSBURG , 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 47 1 



DEDICATION OP BATTERY E MONUMENT, PROM 
THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL. OP 
JULY 7, 1886. 



The Gettysburg Monuments. 



The subject of erecting monuments to the Rhode Island 
heroes who fell at Gettysburg, when first conceived, was that 
the State should erect one stately monument on the field of 
battle in honor of all the Rhode Island" soldiers who fell there ; 
but the committees of the legislature, to which the matter 
was referred, after investigation and discussion of the subject 
with old soldiers, concluded that it would be better to erect 
a special monument for each regiment and battery from the 
State engaged in the battle, and upon the report of this com- 
mittee the sum of $500 for each organization was appro- 
priated for this purpose. 

The monument of Battery E was the first in position. The 
Veteran Association of that organization decided that the 
occasion of the reunion of the Third corps, July 2, 1886, 
would be a proper one for the dedication, as the battery 
formed a part of the artillery brigade of that corps, and they 
considered it to be the more appropriate time, from the fact 
that Captain Randolph of the battery commanded the brigade 
at the time of the action. The committee appointed by the 
Veteran Association, consisting of Sergt. William Millen, 
Lieut. Pardon S. Jastrara, of this city, and Capt. John K. 
Bucklyn, of Mystic, Conn., to provide the monument, left 
here last Wednesday evening, June 30th, for Gettysburg, for 
the performance of that duty. They arrived at Gettysburg 
on Thursday, and immediately made an extensive examina- 
tion of the field, looking over old locations that in a day, as 
it were, became familiar to them. Captain Randolph, the 
former battery commander, was present, and he met with a 
right hearty reception. Friday, the 2d, proved to be a rainy 
day, and General Sickles gave up the out-of-door exercises 
that he had planned, but the members of Battery E had 
traveled all the way from Rhode Island to dedicate a monu- 
ment on that day, and they were not turned aside from their 



472 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

purpose by the rain. The One Hundred and Fourteenth 
Pensylvania, old comrades and fast friends of the battery, 
was present also to dedicate a monument, and its position 
was only a short distance from that of Battery E. The dedi- 
catory exercises of the battery were as follows : Sergeant 
William Millen, chairman of the committee, called the meeting 
to order, and a short prayer was offered by Captain J. K. 
Bucklyn. Lieutenant Jastram read a very interesting report 
of the services of the battery at the battle of Gettysburg, 
written by Captain Bucklyn who was lieutenant commanding 
on that occasion. Captain Randolph being on duty directing 
the movements of the several batteries of the brigade. It 
.may be stated here that Lieutenant Bucklyn was severely 
wounded at Gettysburg, on account of which he made no re- 
port of the battery's part in the action. 

The report was carefully prepared, and was received with 
great pleasure. It gave the number of killed and mortally 
wounded as five, and over one-third of the officers, men and 
horses as wounded, which attested to the severity of the 
ordeal through which the command passed. Captain Bucklyn 
read an original poem which abounded in telling points and 
thrilling incidents which were frequently applauded. The 
committee, through Chairman Millen, by authority vested in 
it by the State of Rhode Island, then turned the monument 
over to the keeping of Col. George E. Randolph, who, as the 
speaker said, " was the first and best beloved commanding 
officer Battery E ever had." Colonel Randolph accepted the 
trust in a speech* brimming over with tender and kind words 
to the men who fought under him and to men of other 
organizations who supported the battery in all of the hard 
fought battles of the Army of the Potomac. He was fre- 
quently and enthusiastically applauded, particularly as he 
dwelt upon the gallant part performed by Lieutenant Bucklyn 
as commanding officer of the battery at Gettysburg, which 
service he thought ought to have been recognized in the 
inscription on the monument. He closed his speech with a 
feeling allusion to the kindly interest all the men of the First 
division of the Third corps always manifested in the battery, 
and expressed his pleasure at meeting so many of them there 
to grasp by the hand. Colonel Randolph then turned the 

* It is regretted tliat no copy of C';ipl:iiii Kundolpirs speech could be found for publication. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 473 

monument over to the Gettysburg Battlefield Association, 
a representative of that body promising in its behalf to care 
for it in the future. Chairman Millen closed the exercises 
by thanking those present for the close attention they had 
given all through the drizzling rain, alluding incidentally to 
the close friendship that existed between Battery E and the 
One Hundred and Fourteeenth Pennsylvania, who became 
such a target to the rebels when they advanced to the support 
of the battery at Chancellorsville. 

The Rhode Island delegation then joined the One Hundred 
and Fourteenth Pennsylvania in the dedication of its mon- 
ument, and listened to a stirring and eloquent address by 
Gen. Charles H. T. Colliss. 

Battery E Monument. 

The material used is Westerly granite. The body of the 
monument is two feet ten inches diameter and five feet high, 
and is square in form with a slight batis on each side. The 
corners have a chamfer about four inches wide, which ter- 
minates at the apex of the sloping roof. The principal 
ornament occupies nearly all the front of the die, and repre- 
sents the shield of the State of Rhode Island at the inter- 
section of two crossed sponge staffs, and surrounded by a 
wreath of laurel. The space below is occupied by a stack of 
cannon balls. All the work is slightly raised and polished 
on its surface. The inscription in sunken letters on the 
right hand side is as follows : " Battery E, First Rhode Island 
Light Artillery, Artillery Brigade, Third Corps, July 2, 1863." 
On the opposite or left side as follows : " Three men killed, 
two of^cers and twenty-four men wounded." 

The single base which is four feet square and two feet 
high, has two steep washes cut on upper part, while the part 
nearest the ground is left rough or quarry surface. The 
wash on front has ," Randolph's Battery " in large sunk 
letters, and on the lower wash is added " Lieutenant Bucklyn 
commanding." The Third corps badge in the form of a 
lozenge is raised in bold relief on the front side of the roof. 



474 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

The following original poem by Captain John K. Bucklyn, 
was read by him at the dedication of the monument. 

Twenty-three years of pleasures and pains — 
Twenty-three years of sunshines and rains : 
Pushing for gains and meeting some losses, 
Hoping for triumphs and bearing some crosses, 
From time to eternity quicklj' have fled, 
Since here on this field we buried our dead. 

Y^ou remeinber the storm of shrapnel and shell, 
That screamed through the air making music of hell — 
It was there that we saw the bright bayonets shine 
When Longstreet's battalions charged up to our line. 
Just there you remember their banners were seen, 
As they hurried across von meadows of green. 
Then we were boys, prepared for the fray — 
Now we are men, old, stubborn and gray. 

Does it seem to you comrades that bullets like rain 
Once fell on this field now covered with grain.'' 
Does it seem that these hills ever echoed the roar 
Of three hundred cannon, perhaps even more.'' 

Before we have finished the labors of life. 

And forever retired from its turmoil and strife, 

It seems well to pause for a day, does it not.'' 

Before the great facts of this fight are forgot, 

And with words for our weapons, the battles fight o'er 

Which with musket and cannon we fought here before; 

And inquire if our comraties Will, Thomas and Ned 

Work with the living or sleep with the dead? 

And for such a meeting what place could be found 

Like that which your valor made classical ground; 

Where the wave of rebellion was exalted on high, 

And hope of the Union seemed ready to die. 

It was high water for them when the first warning gun 

Proclaimed to the world that the fight had begun ; 

But low was their tide — their hope must have fied 

When routed they abandoned their dying and dead. 

As the Punic descended the high Alpine wall, 

Befoi'e him the Roman, behind him the Gaul, 

So Lee led his army o'er that mountain height 

And marshaled them jonder, jirepared for the fight. 

If he won, at his feet the whole world would lie — 

If he lost ! If he lost I It were better to die. 

Well miglit he hope the great battle to gain. 
When he saw his divisions push out on the plain. 
It seemed that no soldiers were near to withstand 
The march of iiis army which covered the land. 
The great central cilies and the Capitol then 
Trembled before the march of his men. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 475 

Like the rush of a torrent that speeds to the main; 
Like the burst of an earthquake that buries the plain; 
Like the roar of the ocean when tempests are high, 
And the sailor discovers no light in the sky. 
So, on came the foe, breathing fury and scorn, 
And backward, still backward our soldiers were borne, 
But they knew Iiow to light, and they fought not in vain, 
For they left the green fields covered thick with the slain. 

Some things are too high to pay for the buying; 
Some things are too Iiard to pay for the trying. 
Lee won all the ground where the loyal men stood, 
But he reddened each foot with Confederate blood. 
The army he shattered in that fiery hour 
Cannot be restored by Confederate power. 
Unless they make soldiers from each shrub or tree, 
They'll never bring back the grand army of Lee. 

Well may the future writer say, 

That Battery E upon that day, 

Amid the battle's steady blaze. 

From bravest men won words of praise : 

For tell me comrades, if you can. 

Where is there now a living man, 

Within this grand old " Keystone State;" 

Within this nation, strong and great — 

In Prussia, England, gallant France — 

Within this whole world's broad expanse, 

Who can tell of men more brave. 

More prompt to die their homes to save. 

In any time; in an}' land ; 

Than those who died where now you stand. 

Their ashes moulder with the clav. 
And yet they may be here to-day. 
For who shall say that soldier tried. 
Who poured his blood a crimson tide. 
Who recked not of the gaping wound 
That stretched him helpless on the ground. 
Provided that his flag could wave 
Above his low and unmarked grave. 
May not come back from home afar, 
To greet his conn-ades in the war. 

A pleasant thought for you and me 

Is this : that if our eyes could see 

What may be hid from mortal men. 

And yet be known to other ken. 

Perhaps ten thousand airy forms. 

Secure from battle shocks and storms ; 

Of those who battled by our side 

When raged the contest far and wide. 

When shell and shrapnel filled the air. 

When muskets flashed and blades were bare. 



476 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Might now be seen around this place, 
With well remembeied form and face. 
Perhaps the lost of Battery E, 
May smile this monument to see 
Perhaps the lost around us stand. 
Although we may not grasp their hands, 
Yet some kind influence may be shed, 
Upon the living by the dead. 

Comrades, if your souls can know 

What we to-day would speak of you. 

The deep emotion of each bieast, 

The thoughts that cannot be expressed — 

You know that every thought of ours, 

That every fraction of oui- powers ; 

That every aspiration high, 

If born to live, or doomed to die — 

We use your deeds to magnify, 

We give to place your names on high. 

Around the granite chiseled here 
We stand and drop the silent tear. 
And pray that to all future time. 
This stone may tell of deeds sublime — 
The product of a valor tried 
On many a field before you died. 

Rest warriors, rest! and know no care; 
Your comrades often breathe this prater. 
If we a little longer wait, 
We trust to find at heavens's gate 
The souls we knew in other days; 
The souls whom we delight to praise. 
For greater love hath no man shown. 
On earth below or round the throne. 
Than his who in the deadly strife 
Freely bartered home and life. 
That here might be a guiding star. 
For those oppressed in lands afar. 



Geo. E, Randolph, Chief of Artillery. 

I've said that Battery E was brave. 

None were moi-e prompt to dare or do. 

Every soldier here to-day 
Can testify that this is true. 

They never straggled by the way, 

Nor tarried till the tiglit was won — 

They promptly took the forward way. 
When ere they heard the signal gun. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 477 

And why is this? perhaps 3'ou ask, 

Why did these soldiers soexoeL' 
To me it is a pleasant task, 

The wh}', in plainest words to tell. 

You've seen the little mountain rill 

Go speeding onward in its course, 
But have you seen its waters rise. 

To higher level than its source? 

You've seen the teacher, day bv day, 

Lead his students high and higher, 
And point to honors on the way, 

To which the humblest may aspire. 

You've seldom seen the student's think. 

Much better than the teacher thought; 
You've seldom seen the student's work, 

Much better than the teacher wrought. 

Hence any man can quickly see. 

If not to prejudice a slave, 
Why it is true, that Battery E 

Was of the bravest of the brave. 

Look at the men who taught them how 

A soldier's duty should be done. 
From tlie first day they entered camp, 

In eighteen hundred sixty-one. 

Randolph you knew, you've seen him ride. 

The fairest mark for rebel shot : 
His ready hand and Hashing eye. 

By you can never be forgot. 

He was a man and soldier true, 

As any living man, or dead. 
What else could any soldier do, 

Than follow whither Randolph led. 

General Phil. Kearny. 

Like a bolt of destruction from out a clear sky. 

Like a flash of a meteor that brightens to die. 

With the head of McDonald and dash of Murat, 

In preparing so cautious, so dashing in war. 

With a mind to conceive and a hand that was strong, 

To encourage the right and beat back the wrong; 

Relying on Hooker as one who was sure, 

Well knowing his lines were always secure; 

Phil. Kearny Avas known a hero, as true 

As ever drew sword for the red, while and blue. 

Whatever deep plans the foe had devised. 

He learned that Phil. Kearny could not be surprised. 



478 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

A touch of his hand, a glance of his eye. 
Would send any soldiei" to conquer or die. 
We forgot we were starving; forgot our despair, 
When Kearnj was present, our dangers to share. 

General Joe Hooker. 

Not a wreath would we snatch from the brow of another, 
Not a word would we saj to injure a brother, 
But the truth should be told, whether pleasant or not, 
And the deeds of the bravest must not be forgot. 

With an eye like an eagle's, to watch and to ward, 
To catch the right moment to strike or to guard, 
The pride of the soldier, a prince in command. 
The peer of the bravest and best in the land, 
Was our own gallant Hooker, the peerless in might. 
Who never came up too late for the fight. 
Palsied the hand that would take from his fame, 
Palsied tlie tongue Avoiild belittle his name. 
How often our souls to valor were stirred, 
When Hooker rode out on the lines of the Third. 

General D. E. Sickles. 

As a peer of these heroes, another we name, 

A worthy successor and friend of the same. 

Who loved the old corps as one loves his own. 

The flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, 

Who certainly won brightest laurels that day. 

When our guns at the Peach Orchard held Longstreet at bay. 

Whose flag floated proud in midst of the slaughter, 

Who poured out his blood as freely as water. 

Whose wisdom saved Gettysburg, say what you will. 

By posting his corps out here on the hill : 

Daniel E. Sickles; you're proud of the name. 

No weak words of mine can add to his fame. 

General Birney. 

I KNOW 3'our souls will gleam with flame 
If I but mention Birney's name. 
No better friend we ever knew 
Than General Birney tried and true. 
None gave us greater words of praise. 
None helped us more in manv wavs, 
None better knew what we could dare, 
And hence he always placed us where 
The road to honor shone most bright, 
Up through the thickest of the fight. 

With teachers in the army school, 

Such as I've mentioned now and here, 
What wonder that our battery fought 

Like men devoid of doubt and fear. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 479 

All praise to leaders staunch and true, 

Who quickly every danger saw; 
Not less of praise perhaps is due 

The private soldier in the war. 

Without the men no mighty deeds 

By bravest general could be done, 
Though oft forgotten in our song, 

His word of praise was noblv won. 

No better men were ever led. 

No men who sought a brighter goal. 
Than those whom Sergeant Lamb addressed, 

Each morning as he called the roll. 

— Johti Knight Bucklyn. 

The following letter and speech of General Sickles with 
an account of the presentation of the Kearny medals to 
Birney's division will be read with interest by the surviving 
members of Battery E : 

23 Fifth Avenue, 

New York, April 4, 1891. 
My Dear Captain Jastram : 

In compliance with the request made in your letter of the 2d instant, 
I have great pleasure in handing to you for the use of Mr. Lewis a 
brief account of the presentation of the "Kearny Medals," taken from 
Gen. T. J. Rodenbough's volume called " The Bravest Five Hundred," 
which is a record of the officers and men who have received the United 
States Medal of Honor. This work has been published during the pre- 
sent year by G. W. Dillingham of New York, successor to G. W. Carl- 
ton & Co., and should be found in every military library — in truth, in 
every American library. In it I find a reference to " Kearny Medals, " 
which I enclose, as copied by my Secretary ; but for this book I would 
have been unable to send you a copy of mv speech, as I had no mem- 
orandum of it among my papers. 

With best wishes for yourself and for all the survivors of Randolph's 
Rhode Island Battery, which had no superior in our armies, I am, dear 
Captain, 

Sincerely yours. 



D. E. Sickles. 



Thk Kearny Cross. 



Soon after the great battle of Chancellorsville, on May 27th, 
1863, General Birney presented a few of his soldiers with the 
Cross of Honor, called the "Kearny Cross, " as follows : 



48o 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



The Brigadier-General Commanding Division announces the follow- 
ing names of meritorious and distinguished non-commissioned officers 
and privates, selected for their gallantry, as recipients of the "Kearny 
Cross," the division decoration. Many deserving soldiers may have 
escaped the notice of their commanding officers, but in the selection after 
the next battle they will doubtless receive this honorable distinction. 

This cross is in honor of our old leader, and the wearer of it will always 
remember his high standard of a true and brave soldier, and will never 
disgrace it. 

An official copy of this order will be given to each soldier entitled to 
wear the Cross. 

D. B. BiRNEY, 

Brtg.-Gen. Vols. Comtna/idi'iiff Division. 
The following order was also issued : 

HEADqUARTERS, FiRST DIVISION, ThIRD CoRPS, 

May, 26, I §63. 

General Orders, 51. 

The division will be paraded to-morrow for the presentation of the 
medals at three o'clock p. m. A start" officer from each brigade will report 
at these headquarters at half-past two o'clock p. m. , for instructions as to 
the ground. Every available man will be turned out, and particular atten- 
tion will be paid to dress and accoutrements of the troops. The brigade 
band of First brigade will be present, and report at two o'clock to Captain 
Briscoe, acting-assistant adjutant-general. The drum corps of brigades 
will be consolidated. 

By command of 

Major-General Birney, etc." 

The occasion drew together a large assemblage of soldiers 
and civilians, in addition to the regular force of the division 
and the distinguished officers present by particular invita- 
tion. 

The first division, to members of which only the medals 
were awarded, was drawn up in hollow square on a beautiful 
meadow in the valley of the Potomac Creek. The distin- 
guished officers present occupied the centre of the square. 

When Major-General Sickles rode into the square the whole 
assemblage of soldiers broke into the wildest cheering. An 
attempt was made at " three times three," but the response 
was more like nine times nine. It was a continuous roar for 
several minutes. 

As soon as the party were all present, the several brigade 
commanders were directed to call the Roll of Honor of their 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 481 

several commands, and the parties designated in the above 
order stepped to the front. They were quickly formed in 
three ranks by brigades, the representatives of each regiment 
carrying the regimental colors, and the brigade colors being 
placed in front of each rank. 

At the request of General Birney, General Sickles made 
the presentation address. He spoke as follows : 

" Soldiers: Your General of Division has confided to me the most 
pleasing of duties, — the decoration of brave men with Medals of Honor. 
These medals are the gift of vour fellow countrymen; they are such 
tokens of appreciation as a martial people should bring to the camp of 
their defenders. 

You have earned these proud emblems of constancv and valor, — more 
precious than riches, more honorable than oflice, — thev are legacies for 
your kindred, which neither time nor change can impair. You are 
volunteers, the noblest type of an army. You have ofl^ered your lives for 
the preservation of a Government, — alone among nations, — of which it 
has been gracefully said that its blessings, like the dews of heaven, 
descend alike upon all. Your power is in your ba^'onets. Bayonets 
have dethroned kings, created nations, opened avenues to civilization and 
religion. The sun which now gilds yours, never lighted holier paths 
than those you follow to battle. The steel which destroys the enemies 
of a good cause is consecrated. It is this, and because you know how to 
use your arms, which makes you invincible. On the day after the attack 
upon Fort Sumpter, April 13, 1S61, I had the honor to be accepted by my 
late lamentented friend, Colonel Vosburg, as a volunteer in the ranks of 
the Seventy-first Regiment of New York Militia. Like yourselves a 
citizen soldier, my military services began with the Rebellion; and, if 
spared so long, will end wlien the rebels are put down. Peace, while the 
Rebellion breathes is dishonor. Never since Caesar led his legions to 
conquest; never since Rienzi, last of the tribunes, fell with the last frag- 
ments of the Roman Republic; not in the armies of Napoleon, where 
marshals rose from the ranks; never in any army, has promotion so 
generally and so surely followed merit as in ours. The genius which 
challenges victory, even from adverse fortune, will, sooner or later, find 
its place at the head of the column. Let your motto be "Excelsior," — 
the emulation of the brave for the commendation of the good. You 
are the soldiers of Kearny, — that electric commander, disdaining death, 
whose sword yielded at last only to the Supreme Conqueror. These 
medals bear his honored name. When I add that Birney is his fit succes- 
sor, and thatj'ou are worthy of both, I hope that nothing is left unsaid 
which the occasion demands. The medals will now be delivered to com- 
manding officers of regiments, who will decorate the men of their com- 
mands named in the order." 

The names of the men in Battery E receiving the medals 
are recorded on page 178. 

31 



^^v^^w— ^-^ — W^^"-~f^ 



Roster and Battery Index. 



The names are recorded in the order of the highest rank 
while on service in the company. The missing dates and 
residences are owing to the unfinished records, novv being 
completed at the Adjutant's-General's office of Rhode Island. 
The name of the state is given only to those enlisting from 
other states. 

Captains. 

George E. Randolph. Providence. First sergeant, Bat- 
tery A, June 6, 1861 ; wounded July 2ij 1861, at first 
battle of Bull Run, Va. ; second lieutenant, Aug. 14, 
1861 ; first lieutenant. Battery C, Sept. 13, 1861 ; cap- 
tain, Battery E, Sept. 28, 1861 ; chief of Birney's di- 
vision artillery, Dec. 12, 1862; chief of Third corps 
artillery, April 26, 1863 ; wounded severely July 2, 1863, 
at Gettysburg, Pa. ; resigned Dec. 29, 1863, to take effect 
Jan. 5, 1864; breveted major, lieutenant-colonel, and 
colonel, after being mustered out of service. 

Mentioned on pages : 3, 10, 1 1, 19, 20, 30, 33, 37, 43, 46, 
47, 60, 64, 65, 66, 6g, 71, 79, 80, 83, 88, 89, 90, 93, 98, 99, 
loi, 102, 103, 106, no. III, 112, 113, 118, 122, 127, 130, 
131, 132, 135, 136, 137, 141, 146, 149, 150, 152, 153, 156, 
157, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 169, 170, 171, 
172, 174, 175, 177, 178, 180, 194, 200, 202, 206, 211, 212, 
213, 214, 223, 224, 229, 235, 237, 238, 241, 243, 251, 253, 
254, 255, 257, 270, 271, 274, 275, 278, 279, 466,467,471, 
472, 473, 476, 477, 479. 
Biographical sketch, 258. 

William B. Rhodes. Warwick. First lieutenant, Battery 
G, Oct. 2, i86r ; transferred to Battery D, Dec. 26, 
1862; captain. Battery E, April 7, 1864, to date from 
Jan. 5, 1864; brevet major, to date from Aug. i, 1864; 



484 HISTORY OF BAT'J'ERY E, ■ • 

absent on sick leave Dec. 8, 1864; discharged on ac- 
count of physical disability March 8, 1865. 

Mentioned : 277, 278, 281, 286, 287, 288, 289, 291, 293, 
302, 306, 309, 310, 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 327, 328, 329, 

330, 331. 334, 338, 340, 341, 34^, 351, 352, 353, 354, 358, 
359, 361, 362, 363, 365, 366, 367, 381, 382, 384, 385, 386, 

3^7>_389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 402, 403, 437, 439- 
Biographical sketch, 405. 

Jacob H. Lamb. Newport. Sergeant, Battery E, Sept. 30, 
1 861 ; first sergeant, March 14, 1S62 ; second lieutenant, 
Battery A, Oct. i, 1862; wounded at battle of Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 3, 1863 ; first lieutenant. Battery C, Nov. 6, 
1863; commanded Battery C, from Sept. 9 to Dec. 23, 
1864; transferred to Battery G, Dec. 23, 1864; brevet 
captain Oct. 19, 1864 ; captain, Nov. 5, 1864 ; never mus- 
tered as such until mustered as captain of Battery E, 
May 30, 1865 ; assumed command, June 3 ; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 4, 12, 32, 34,47, no, in, 112, 224, 437, 

439,. 467, 479, 

Biographical sketch, 439. 

First Lieutenants. 
Walter O. Bartlett. Providence. Quartermaster sergeant. 
First Light Battery, May 2, 1861 ; mustered out Aug. 6, 
1861 ; first lieutenant, Battery E, Sept. 28, 1861 ; captain 
of Battery B, Jan. 24, 1862 ; resigned, Aug. 19, 1862. 
Mentioned : 4, 10, 12, 28, 29, 
Biographical sketch, 445. 
William Albert Arnold. Providence. First lieutenant, 
Sept. 28, 1861 ; captain of Battery A, Dec. 6, 1862 ; 
brevet lieutenant-colonel ; mustered out June 17, 1864. 

Mentioned : 4, 10, 12, 17, 29, 36, 39, 51, 59, 65, 77, 83, 
86, 93, 103, 112, 113, 114, 118, 119, 120, 127, 132, 274, 
465, 466. 

Biographical sketch, 446. 

John A. Perry. Coventry. P^irst lieutenant, Sept. 28, 

1 86 1 ;■ appointed chaplain First Regiment Rhode Island 

Light Artillery, Jan. 13, 1862; resigned, Oct. 17. 1863. 

Mentioned : 4, 10, 18 21, 24, 27, 28, 30, 39, 47, 50, 141, 

143, 146. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 485 

George C. De Kay. Providence. First lieutenant, Sept. 
28, 1861 ; declined commission. He was afterwards an 
officer on Gen. Thomas Williams's staff and was mortally- 
wounded at Grand Gulf, Mississippi, May 26, 1862. 
Mentioned : 10, 12, 85, 274. 

Pardon S. Jastram. Providence. Private Company C, First 
Rhode Island Infantry, May 2, 1861 ; mustered out Aug. 
2, 1 86 1 ; first lieutenant Battery E Oct. 16, 1861 ; com- 
manded Battery E from Dec. 12, 1862 to May 15, 1863 ; 
acting assistant adjutant-general third corps artillery 
brigade from May 15, 1863, to resignation March 29, 
1864; left the army April 6, 1864. 

Mentioned : 12, 30, 38, 43, 47, 51, 57, 60, 61, 62, 67,, 64, 
65, 66, ^^, 103, no, 127, 134, 135, 136, 137, 141, 142, 153, 
156, 160, 162, 166, 167, 170, 171, 175, 177, 206, 212, 214, 
215, 272, 278, 369, 402, 467, 471, 472, 479. 

Biographical sketch, 274. 

John K. Bucklyn. Providence. Quartermaster sergeant, 
Sept. 30, 1861 ; Second lieutenant, March i, 1862; first 
lieutenant, Dec. 31, 1862; commanded Battery E from 
May 15,1 863, to April 26, 1 864 ; wounded severely at battle 
of Gettysburg, Pa , July 2, 1863 ; on detached service sixth 
corps artillery brigade as A. D. C., and A. A. A. General 
on Colonel Tompkins's staff May 4, 1864 ; brevet captain, 
Oct. 19, 1864; captain in First Regiment Rhode Island 
Light Artillery, Jan. 11, 1865; resigned Feb. 5, 1865. 

Mentioned : 4, 12, 30, 38, 43, 44, 47, 51, 66, 103, 108, 
124, 134, 135, 147, 156, 162, 163, 169, 170, 171, 175, 177, 
178, 180, 181, 194, 200, 205, 206, 208, 209, 212, 214, 215, 
223, 229. 232, 233, 237, 241, 242, 246, 249, 251, 252, 254, 
257, 258, 261, 262, 272, 274, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 
369. 381, 384, 392; 437, 471, 472, 473, 474. 

Biographical sketch, 401. 

Ezra K. Parker. Coventry. Second lieutenant. Battery D, 
Sept. 7, 1861 ; First lieutenant. Battery E, April 8, 1864; 
reported for duty April 23, 1864 ; commanded Battery E, 
from Dec. 10, 1864, to June 2, 1865 ; mustered out June 
14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 277, 278, 281, 286, 287, 310, 327, 328, 340, 
352, Z77< 3S1, 382, 386, 387, 388, 390. 392, 393, 394, 397, 
399, 405, 40S, 412, 416, 429, 431, 432, 437, 442, 443. 

Biographical sketch, 438. 



486 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Hezekiah Potter. Providence. Private Battery H, Auo^., 
1862; corporal and quartermaster sergeant in same 
battery; second lieutenant, Battery E, Oct. 21, 1864; 
mustered in November nth ; first lieutenant, June 12, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned, 390, 393, 394, 433, 435, 443. 

Biographical sketch, 448. 

Reuben H. Rich. Providence. First lieutenant. Battery E, 
June 12, 1865 ; never reported but remained in Battery 
G until mustered out June, 24, 1865. 

Second Lieutenants. 

Israel R. Sheldon. Warwick. Second lieutenant, Jan. 9, 
1862 ; resigned May 22, 1863 ; commissioned brevet cap- 
tain after returning home. 

Mentioned: 28,29,47, 59, 99, 103, 112, 135, 147, 178, 
179 

Biographical sketch, 447. 

Benjamin Freeborn. East Greenwich. Private Battery G, 
Dec. 4, 1861 ; sergeant, same battery, June 9, 1862; 
second lieutenant. Battery E, March 17, 1863 ; reported for 
duty April 19 ; slightly wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 
2, 1863; first lieutenant. Battery G, Oct. 21, 1864, A. A. 
A. General artillery Brigade, sixth corps ; in command 
of Battery G when returning home ; mustered out June 
24, 1865. 

Mentioned : 152, 162, 171, 208, 21 1, 212, 2 14, 215, 254, 
257, 268, 277, 281, 310, 329, 332, 340, 348, 361, 379, 390, 

393- 

Biographical sketch, 379. 

J. Russell Field. Providence. Quartermaster sergeant, 
Battery G, Dec. 2, 1861 ; second lieutenant, Battery E, 
Dec 31, 1862 ; resigned, March 16," 1863. 
Mentioned: 142, 146,147, 152. 

James F. Allen. Staten Island, N. Y. Sergeant, Sept. 30, 
1861 ; first sergeant, Oct. i, 1862 ; second lieutenant, 
June I, 1863 ; mustered out Oct. 14, 1864. 

Mentioned: 13, 25, iii, 146, 165, 179, 208, 277, 281, 
287, 306, 310, 337, 340, 348, 361. 

Biographical sketch, 380. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 487 

Edward A. Chandler. Coventry. Private, Sept. t,o, 1861 ; 
corporal, Nov. 21, 1862 ; wounded slightly, Nov. 7. 1863 ; 
lance sergeant, Feb. 8, 1864 ; sergeant, April 6, 1864; 
second lieutenant, Oct. 25, 1864; mustered out June 14, 
1865. 

Mentioned : 14, 27, 39, 122, 170, 179, 215, 239, 242, 
263, 264, 267, 274, 276, 281, 328, 377, 384, 387, 388, 389, 
390,407,408,412,416,431,432,444. 

Biographical sketch, 449. 

George Humphrey. Tiverton. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
corporal, Aug. i, 1862 ; sergeant, June 10, 1863 ; re- 
enlisted Dec. 24, 1863 ; wounded severely at Cold Har- 
bor, June 3, 1864; eight months absent on account of 
wounds ; first sergeant, Feb. 27, 1865 ; second lieutenant, 
March 31, 1865 ; assigned to Battery D, May 29, 1865 ; 
never reported or mustered as such ; mustered out June 
14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 13, 25, 44, 80, 163, 165, 172, 180,210, 215, 
238, 254, 263, 267, 268, 273, 277, 281, 310, 311, 314, 315, 
388, 401, 405, 408, 412, 429, 430, 431, 432, 435, 437, 442, 
444. 

Biographical sketch, 450. 

George Lewis. Providence. Enlisted as private, Sept. 24, 
1861 ; mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; wounded slightly May 
3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va. ; lance corporal, May 29, 
1863; corporal, Sept. 4, 1863 ; re-enlisted Feb. i, 1864; 
lance sergeant, April 9, 1864; sergeant, Oct. 20, 1864, to 
date from Oct. 4 ; second lieutenant, March 31, 1865 ; 
assigned to Battery H, May 29, 1865; never reported or 
mustered as such ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 14, 21, 25, 27, 62, no, 119, 147, 174, 179, 
210, 215, 228, 230, 246, 255, 263, 264, 265, 267, 276, 277, 
28 [, 289, 290, 310, 315, 319, 322, 377, 384, 387, 389, 391, 
392, 394, 397, 399, 405, 408, 430, 431, 434, 435, 437, 442, 
443, 444, 479. 

Biographical sketch, 452. 



488 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

William S. Blair. Providence. Private Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
corporal, Sept. 9, 1863 ; re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863 ; ser- 
geant, Nov. 5, 1864; second lieutenant, May 16, 1865 ; 
assigned to Battery F, May 29, 1865 ; never reported or 
mustered as such ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 13, 216, 230, 254, 281, 362, 377, 388, 397, 
405, 412, 431, 435, 444. 

13iographical sketch, 455. 

First Sergeants. 

William E. Bowen. Providence. Enlisted Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged on surgeon's certificate March 14, 1862. 
Mentioned, 12, 31, 32. 
Biographical sketch, 456. 

Jacob H. Lamb. [See Captain.] 

James F. Allen. [See Second Lieutenant.] 

Charles S. Winslow. Providence. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
corporal, March 14, 1862 ; sergeant, Oct. 6, 1862 ; first 
sergeant, June i, 1863 ; wounded severely July 2, 1863, at 
Gettysburg, Pa. ; second lieutenant, Oct. 14, 1863, assigned 
to P'ourteenth Rhode Island Colored Regiment, Oct. 16, 
1863 ; rejected on account of physical disability ; trans- 
ferred to veteran reserve corps, Feb. i, 1864; mustered 
out Sept. 30, 1864. 

Mentioned : 13, 18, 32, 80, 1 1 1, 146, 179, 180, 208, 211, 
212, 230, 351. 

Biographical sketch, 458. 

Charles P. Williams. Warwick. Private, Company I, First 
R. L Infantry, May 2, 1861 ; mustered out Aug. i, 1861 ; 
mustered as corporal in Battery E. Sept. 30, 1861 ; ser- 
geant, Aug. 6, 1862 ; first sergeant, Feb. 8, 1864 ; sergeant 
again, Aug. 2, 1864; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned : 12, 14, 21, 25, 32, 43, 61, Gt,, 64, 81, 131, 
147, 210, 215, 264, 267, 268, 355, 367, 377. 

Biographical sketch, 370. 

James Donnelly. Warwick. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; cor- 
poral, Aug. I, 1862 ; acting sergeant from July 3, 1863, to 
Feb. 8, 1864; sergeant, Feb. 19, 1864; first sergeant, 
Aug. 2, 1864; mustered out Oct, 3, 1864. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 489 

Mentioned: 13, 80, in, 215, 226, 253, 281, 310, 352, 
367, 368, 374, 381. 

Biographical sketch, 374. 

Charles "VV. Robbins. Foster. Mustered as private, Feb. 8, 
1862; joined battery Feb. 28; corporal, Feb. 8, 1864; 
first sergeant, Oct. 15, 1864, to date from Oct. i ; mus- 
tered out at Fort Wadsworth, Va., Feb. 7, 1865. 

Mentioned: 30, 265, 281, 359, 377, 381, 384, 397, 399, 
400. 

George Humphrey. [See Second Lieutenant.] 

Quartermaster Sergeants. 

John K. Bucklyn. [See First Lieutenant.] 

Charles A. Brown. Providence. Mustered as corporal, 
Sept. 30, 1861 ; quartermaster sergeant, March 8, 1862, 
to date from March i ; mustered as second lieutenant of 
Battery B April 14, 1863 ; taken prisoner between Belle 
Plain and Fredericksburg, Va., May 18, 1864; escaped 
from prison at Macon Ga., Nov. 4, 1864 ; first lieutenant, 
Battery G, Oct. 21, 1864; never reported or mustered as 
such ; mustered out at Washington, D. C, Jan 31, 1865 ; 
final discharge June 5, 1865. 

Mentioned: 4, 12, 13, 30, S7, 121, 122, 146, 149, 152, 

375. 376. 

Biographical sketch, 375. 

Benjamin N. Remington. Cranston. Mustered as private, 
Sept. 30, 1861 ; company clerk, Nov. 1862 ; quartermaster 
sergeant, April 14, 1863 ; re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863 ; mus- 
tered out June 14. 1865, 

Mentioned : 14, 147, 152, 216, 254, 267, 268, 276, 431, 
444. 

Biographical sketch, 457. 

Sergeants. 
Jacob H. Lamb. [See Captain.] 
James F. Allen. [See Second Lieutenant.] 



490 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

William Millen. Providence. Mustered as private in First 
Rhode Island Light Battery May 2, 1861 ; mustered out 
Aug. 6, 1861 ; mustered as sergeant in Battery E Sept. 30, 
1 86 1 ; on detached service in third corps artillery brigade 
as ordnance sergeant from June 7, 1863, to April 
12, 1864; on detached service in sixth corps artillery 
brigade as commissary sergeant, May 3, 1864, to Sept. 26, 
1864; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned: 4, 13, 39, 49, 66, 6^, 147, 179, 230, 276, 

367, 3^9' 47h 472, 473- 
Biographical sketch, 368. 

Joseph S. Milne. Tiverton. Mustered as sergeant Sept. 30, 
1861 ; second lieutenant, Battery B, Nov. 11, 1862; 
detached to Battery A, Fourth U. S. [Cushing's], during 
the Gettysburg campaign ; mortally wounded at Gettys- 
burg July 3, 1863 ; died July 8, at Gettysburg, Pa. 

Mentioned : 4, 14, 64, 120, 122, 465. 

Death and burial, 224, 225. 
Amasa a. Darling. Providence. Mustered as sergeant, 
Sept. 30, 1 861 : reduced to ranks Nov. 8, 1862 ; wounded 
severely in foot at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; 
discharged by war department Dec. 23, 1863. 

Mentioned: 4, 13, 39, 118, 119, 171, 175, 177. 

Special reference, 460, 461. 
George E. Williams. Scituate. Mustered as sergeant, Sept. 
30, 1861 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate, Aug. 5, 
1862. 

Mentioned : 14, 63, 64, 81. 
Allen Gardiner. Jamestown. Mustered as corporal, Sept. 
30, 1861 ; sergeant, March 14, 1862; reduced to corporal 
at his own request, Oct. 7, 1862 ; re-enlisted Dec. 7th and 
mustered as veteran, Dec. 1 1, 1863 ; discharged to accept 
promotion as second lieutenant in Twenty-sixth U. S. 
Colored Regiment June 4, 1864 ; [Com. dated May i ith] ; 
transferred to Forty-sixth U. S. Colored Regiment June 
21, 1865 ; resigned Aug. 28, 1865. 

Mentioned: 12, 21, 25, 32, in, 215, 253, 263, 274, 
281. 

Biographical sketch, 316. 
Charles P. Williams. [See Plrst Sergeant.] 
Charles S. Winslow. [See First Sergeant.] 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 49 1 

Seth B, Darling. Providence. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
lance corporal, Oct. 11, 1 86 1 ; corporal, Nov. i, 1861 ; 
sergeant, Oct. 7, 1861 ; acting first sergeant from July 3, 
1863, to Feb. 8, 1864; reduced to ranks at his own re- 
quest, Feb. 19, 1864; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned : 12, 1 11, 215, 226, 268, 367. 

Special reference, 460, 461. 
Arthur W. Hargraves. Warwick. Private, Company H, 
First R. I. Regiment, May 2, 1S61 ; mustered out Aug. 
2, 1861; private in Battery E Sept. 30, 1861; lance 
corporal, Oct. 11, 1861 ; corporal, Nov. i, 1861 ; sergeant, 
Nov. 14, 1862 ; wounded slightly July 2, 1863, at Gettys- 
■ burg. Pa.; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned: 12, 13, 30, 68, 119, 147, 174, 209, 211, 
213, 215, 216, 226, 267, 268, 281, 299, 302, 310, 311, 315, 

367.. 371. 372, 373. 377- 
Biographical sketch, 371. 

George W. H. Allen. Scituate. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 
corporal, Nov. 18, 1861 ; sergeant, Nov. 21, 1862 
wounded slightly at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; re-en 
listed Dec. 7th, and mustered as veteran Dec. 11, 1863 
first lieutenant. Fourteenth R. I. Colored Regiment, Feb. 4. 
1864 ; left the Battery to join his regiment March 8, 1864 
A. D., C, on Colonel Wilson's staff, April 21, 1864 
adjutant third battalion, July 5, 1864; A. A. A. General 
of District of Carollton, La., Jan., 1865 ; member of Gen- 
eral Court Martial Department Louisiana and Texas, 
July 29, 1865 ; mustered out Oct. 2, 1865. 

Mentioned: 8, 14, 21, 28, 64, 66,80, 122, 159, 175, 
177, 211, 212, 215, 253, 263, 264, 268. 
Biographical sketch, 269. 
George Humphrey. [See Second Lieutenant.] 
Edward A. Chandler. [See Second Lieutenant.] 
James A. Tanner. Coventry. Mustered as corporal, Sept. 
30, 1861 ; wounded slightlyat Gettysbug, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; 
and at Payne's F'arm, Va., Nov. 27, 1863 ; lance sergeant, 
Feb. 8, 1864; sergeant, April 6, 1864; mustered out 
Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned : 12, 13, 147, 174, 211, 212, 215, 238, 246, 
252,^ 254, 264, 267, 274, 281, 310, 367. 
Biographical sketch, 373. 



492 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

George Lewis. [See Second Lieutenant.] 

John Slocum. West Greenwich. Private, Aug. 13, 1862 ; 
arrived at battery Sept. 4, 1862 ; corporal, Feb. 8, 1864; 
sergeant, Oct. 20, 1864, to date from Oct. 4th ; mustered 
out June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 107, 212, 265, 281, 329, 377, 384, 387, 
388,394, 399. 

Biographical sketch, 459. 

John Cunningham. Philadelphia, Pa. Private, Jan. i, 
1863; arrived at battery Jan. 10; corporal [probably], 
Feb. 8, 1864; sergeant, Oct. 20, 1864; to date from Oct. 
4; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 142, 281, m, 384, 387, 388, 394, 397, 399. 

Special reference, 459. 

Otto Wilder. Germany. Private, July 6, 1863 ; arrived at 
battery Aug. 8 ; corporal, Feb. 19, 1864, sergeant, Oct. 20, 
1864, to date from Oct. 4th ; on detached service as ser- 
geant in ambulance corps, March 18, 1S65 ; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 229, 268 281, 377, 384, 388, 397, 408. 

Special reference, 460. 

Willia:\i S. Blair. [See Second Lieutenant.] 

Samuel W. Austin. Maine. Detached from Third Maine 
Lifantry May, 1863 ; re-enlisted into Battery E, Oct. 23, 
1863 ; corporal, Dec. 11, 1863 ; sergeant, Feb. 27, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 235, 253, 268, 281, 362, 394, 399, 400. 

405^> 431- 

Special reference, 460. 

Corporals. 

Francis B. Butts. Cranston. Mustered as corporal Sept. 30, 
1861 ; in hospital Aug. 6, 1862; entered the naval 
service from hospital Oqt. 5, 1862 ; mustered out of the 
naval service June 17, 1865. 

Mentioned: 4, 9, 12, 30, 64, 81, 122. 

Biographical sketch, 461. 

Charles A. I^rown. [See Quartermaster Sergeant.] 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 493 

Albert H. Trescott. Providence Mustered as corporal, 
Sept. 30, 1861 ; died of fever at Harrison's landing, Va., 
July 28, 1862. 

Mentioned: 12, 13, 80, 465. 

James A, Tanner. [See Sergeant.] 

John B. Mathewson. Nayat, Barrington. Mustered as cor- 
poral Sept. 30, 1S61 ; died of fever near Alexandria, Va., 
Jan. 22, 1862. 

Mentioned: 12, 14, 16, 17, 28, 465. 

Charles P. Williams. [See First Sergeant.] 

Allen Gardiner. [See Sergeant.] 

Arthur W. Hargraves. [See Sergeant.] 

Seth B. Darling. See Sergeant.] 

Georges H. Burlingham. Warwick. Private, Sept. 30, 
1861 ; lance corporal, Oct. 11, 1861 ; corporal, Nov. i, 
1 861 ; taken prisoner at Charles City Cross-Roads June 
30, 1862; paroled in hospital soon after; reduced to the 
ranks, Nov. 21, 1862 ; dropped from rolls as deserter from 
hospital May 22, 1863. 

Mentioned : 12, 14, 28, 64, 66, 80, 122, 178. 

George F. Lord. Coventry. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; lance 
corporal, Oct. 11, 1861 ; corporal, Nov. i, 1861 ; reduced 
to the ranks for physical disability, Jan. 4, 1863; re-en- 
listed Dec. 20, 1863 ; detached to ambulance corps April 
24, 1864; mustered oiit June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 12, 13, 254, 444, 464. 

Halliton p. Hale, New York City. Private, Oct. 28, 1861 ; 
corporal, Nov. i, 1861 ; reduced to the ranks Nov. 18, 
1861 ; re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1763 ; transferred to navy April 
24, 1864, near Brandy Station, Va. 
Mentioned, 15, 21, 230, 254, 277. 

Geo. W. H. Allen. [See Sergeant.] 

Ernest Simpson. Germany. Private, Oct. 7, 1861 ; cor- 
poral, Jan. 26, 1862; in hospital from Aug. 10, 1862, to 
Jan. 19, 1863; company clerk, Feb. 1863; killed at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Mentioned : 14, 28, 80, 142, 210, 215, 222, 465. 



494 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

William H. Polk. Coventry. Private. Sept. 30, 1861 ; cor- 
poral, March 8, 1862; reduced to the ranks July, 1S62, 
and detached as assistant in hospital serving from July, 
1862, to March, 1864; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. His 
name was formerly spelled Pooke. 

Mentioned: 14, 30, 80, 230, 259, 367, 

Charles S, Winslow. [See First Sergeant.] 

Lester S. Hill. Foster. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; corporal, 
Aug. I, 1862; second lieutenant. Company F, Four- 
teenth R. I. Heavy Artillery (Colored), Dec. 15, 1863 ; left 
the battery to join his regiment Dec. 27 ; mustered out 
Oct. 2, 1865. 

Mentioned: 14, 21, 23, 25, "jG, yj, 80, 122, 210, 215, 
216, 253, 265, 371. 
Biographical sketch, 255. 

George Humphrey. [See Second Lieutenant.] 

James Donnelly. [See First Sergeant] 

Lemuel A. Greene. Scituate. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
corporal, Aug. 7, 1862; killed at battle of Kettle Run, 
Aug. 27, 1862. 

Mentioned: 14, 81, 89, 91, 465. 

Thomas T. Beard. Warwick. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
corporal, Nov. 14, 1862; reduced to the ranks at his own 
request, Feb. 19, 1864; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned: 13, 119, 180, 215, 268, 276, 367. 

Edward A. Chandler. [See Second Lieutenant.] 

William H. Steere. Smithfield. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
company clerk, Sept., 1862; left the battery on sick fur- 
lough, Oct. 8, 1862 ; lance corporal, Nov. 21, 1862, while 
absent sick : Portsmouth Grove Hospital R. I. Jan. 10, 
1863; transferred to veteran reserve corps, Sept. i, 
1863 ; in commissary department, in hospital, until spring 
of 1864, then clerk for provost guard at Providence ; 
mustered out Sept. 30, 1864. 
Mentioned: 13, in, 122. 

James Mulligan. Warwick. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; pris- 
oner, Aug. 30, 1862, at battle of Second Bull Run ; pro- 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 495 

moted corporal, Nov. 21, 1862, while absent as paroled 
prisoner ; was in several hospitals including that at Ports- 
mouth Grove, R. I., where he remained as hospital 
steward until mustered out Oct. 12, 1864. 
Mentioned: 12, 122,464. 

John M. Battey. Scituate. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; cor- 
poral, Jan. 4, 1863; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned: 14, 141, 163, 170, 172, 215, 240, 255, 
281,367. 

John J. Mulhall. Warwick. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
corporal, Jan. 4, 1863 ; reduced to the ranks, Feb. 19, 
1864, mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned : 13, 141, 215, 268, 'i^^'j. 

Albert A. Hopkins. Scituate. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
corporal, Jan. 4, 1863 ; blacksmith, April, 22, 1863 ; mus- 
tered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned: 14, 61, 63. 141, 152, 209, 216, 311, 367. 

Herbert F. Bennett. Bristol. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
corporal, Jan. 4, 1S63 ; re-enlisted, Dec. 23, and mustered 
as veteran Dec. 24, 1863 ; second lieutenant, Company L, 
Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (Colored), Feb. 
3, 1864; mustered out Oct. 2, 1865. 

Mentioned: 13, 141, 178, 213, 215, 226, 254, 263, 264. 

Biographical sketch, 265. 

Richard Alexander. Foster. Private, Feb. 17, 1862; 
corporal, Jan. 4, 1863 ; wounded slightly at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 2, 1863; reduced to the ranks, Sept. 9, 1863; 
accidentally wounded in foot while foraging near Mine 
Run, Nov. 28, 1863 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate. 
May 16, 1864. 

Mentioned : 30, 141, 211, 212, 215, 230, 252. 

George Lewis. [See Second Lieutenant.] 

Luther L. Young. Foster. Mustered as private, Feb. 17, 
1862; lance corporal about June, 1863; wounded slightly 
at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate Oct. 6, 1863. 

Mentioned: 30, 211, 212, 215, 230, 463. 

William S. Blair. [See Second Lieutenant.] 



496 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Samuel W. Austin. [See Sergeant.] 

John Cunningham. [See Sergeant.] 

John Slocum. [See Sergeant] 

Charles W. Robbins. [See First Sergeant.] 

Nathan P. Tabor. Detached from Third Maine Infantry 
in May, 1863 ; re-enlisted into Battery E, Dec. 21, 1863 ; 
corporal, Feb. 8, 1864; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned: 254, 265, 281. 

Jerahmeel Dexter. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; corporal, Feb. 
8, 1864 ; re-enlisted Feb. 25, 1864; mustered out June 
14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 13, 265, 268, 431, 444, 463. 

Otto Wilder. [See Sergeant.] 

George H. Pierce. East Greenwich. Private, Sept. 30 

1861 ; corporal, Feb. 19, 1864 ; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned: 14, 114, 268, 281, 367. 

William Torpy. Providence. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; bugler, 
re-enlisted, Dec. 21, 1863 ; corporal, Feb. 19, 1864; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 13, 147, 17S, 254, 268, 281, 444,^463. 

John Harrihan. Detached from infantry ; lance corporal, 
April, 9, 1864 ; date or cause of leaving battery unknown. 
Mentioned : 281. 

Chandler Lindsey. New York ; enlisted from government 
employ as wagon maker, Jan. 4, 1864 ; lance corporal, 
April 9, 1864; corporal, Oct. 24, 1864; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 258,281,385. 

Charles S. Huling. West Greenwich. Private, Aug. 13, 

1862 ; arrived at battery Sept. 4; wounded May 3, 1863, 
at Chancellorsville, Va. ; corporal, Oct. 20, 1864; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 107, 174, 384. 
Samuel Havens. Coventry, Private, Aug. 14, 1862; arrived 
at battery Sept. 4 ; wounded slightly at Gettysburg, Pa. ; 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 497 

July 2, 1863 ; corporal, Oct. 20, 1864; mustered out June 
14, 1865. Mentioned : 107, 213, 384, 463. 
Bradbury A. Boggs. Maine. Knlisted into Fourth Maine 
Regiment, June 15, 1861 ; detached from Fourth Maine 
Infantry May, 1863; re-enlisted into Battery E, Nov. 17, 
1863; corporal, Oct. 20, 1864; mustered out June 14, 
1865. Mentioned: 230, 243, 384, 433. 
Jeremlih Bucklin. Warwick. Private, Aug. 14, 1862; 
arrived at battery Sept. 4; corporal, Oct. 20, 1864; 
wounded by accident Nov. 2, 1864; in hospital ; re-joined 
battery at Providence where he was mustered out June 
14, 1865. 
Mentioned: 107,384,388. 
Philip A. Dexter. Smithfield. Private, Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863; corporal, Oct. 20, 1864; mus- 
tered out as private June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned:' 14, 103, 274, 281, 384, 388, 432, 433, 444. 
Ed.son S. White. Foxboro, Mass. Private, Aug. 14, 1862 ; 
corporal, Oct. 20, 1864; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 107, 384. 
Michael Pexdergrass. Detached from Fourth N. Y, Heavy 
Artillery, Sept. 14, 1864 ; corporal, Oct. 20, 1864; reduced 
to the ranks Nov. 25, 1864; recalled to his regiment 
May 31, 1865. 

Mentioned: 384,385,391. 
William H. Cook. Detached from Fourth N. Y. Heavy Ar- 
tillery, Sept. 14, 1864 ; corporal, Oct. 21, 1864; reduced 
soon after; recalled to his regiment May 31, 1865. 
Mentioned : 385. 
Uriah Griffin. Detached from Pennsylvania regiment ; 
re-enhsted into Battery E Nov. 23, 1863 ; lance corporal, 
Nov. 6, 1864 ; corporal, Nov. 25 ; mustered out June 14, 
1865. 
Mentioned: 243, 388, 397. 
Richard T. Beard. Detached from Fourth N. Y. Heavy 
Artillery, Sept. 14, 1864; lance corporal, Nov. 25, 1864; 
corporal, Feb. 27, 1865 ; on pass to Washington, D. C, 
May 18, 1865, and never returned. 
Mentioned : 391, 399, 405. 

32 



498 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Henry Rehfeldt, alias Gerber. Germany. Private, July 
2, 1863 ; arrived at battery Aug. 8 ; lance corporal, Feb. 
8, 1865 ; corporal, April 28, 1865 ; mustered out June 
14, 1865. 

Mentioned: 229, 359, 432, 444. 
Ira Vosburg. Detached from Fourth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, 
Sept. 14, 1864; lance corporal, Feb. 27, 1865; recalled 
to his regiment May 27, 1865. 
Mentioned : 405, 437. 
Martin Brannan. England Private, July 7, 1863 ; arrived 
at battery Aug. 8 ; corporal [probably] in March or April, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned: 229,311. 
William Freedman, Detached from N. J. Light Battery 
A, Oct., 1864 ; lance corporal, April 28, 1865 ; recalled to 
his battery May 31, 1865. 
Mentioned : 432. 
Charles Possin. Germany. Private, July 7, 1863 ; arrived 
at battery, Aug. 8 ; corporal, May, 1865 ; mastered out 
June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 229. 
John McAlees. Pawtucket. Private, Sept. 30, 1 861 ; wounded 
May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va. ; re-enlisted Dec. 14, 
1863 ; lance corporal, May, 1865 ; mustered out June 14, 
1865. 
Mentioned: 13. [47, 178, 254, 267, 444, 464. 
William Owens. Brooklyn, N. Y. Detached from infan- 
try ; re-enlisted into Battery E Jan. 2, 1864; lance cor- 
poral about June i, 1865 ; mustered June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 258, 433. 

Artificers. 

Joseph D. H.vnev. Providence. Farrier ; mustered Sept. 30, 
1861 ; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned: 216, 367, 
David H. Colvin. Woonsocket. Blacksmith ; mustered 
Sept. 30, 1861 ; discharged July 20, 1862, on surgeon's 
certificate. 

Mentioned : 14, 79. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 499 

Otis B. Jencks. Cranston. Blacksmith ; mustered Sept. 30, 
1861 ; reduced to the ranks ; discharged March 22, 1863, 
on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 14. 
Asa Wilson. Warwick. Harness maker ; mustered Sept. 
30, 1861 ; discharged March 23, 1863, on surgeon's cer- 
tificate. 

Mentioned : 14. 
Nathan C. Lazelle. Providence. Carriage maker ; mus- 
tered Sept. 30, 1861 ; discharged Feb. 9, 1862, on sur- 
geon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 14. 
John H. Carney. Woonsocket. Harness maker ; mustered 
Sept. 30, 1861 ; taken prisoner at Chai'les City Cross 
Roads, Va., June 30, 1862; exchanged, returned to bat- 
tery Sept. 26, 1862; in hospital Dec, 1862; dropped 
from rolls for long absence, Aug., 1863. 
Mentioned : 14, 64, no. 
Henry C. Wightman. East Greenwich. Private, First R. 
I. Infantry May 2, 1861 ; mustered out of First Regiment 
Aug. 2, 1861 ; private in Battery E Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
appointed carriage maker in Feb., 1862 ; re-enlisted Dec. 

14, 1863 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 14, 254, 399, 444, 463. 

Albert A. Hopkins. Blacksmith. [See Corporal] 

John E. Johnston. Providence. Mustered as private, Feb. 

15, 1864 ; farrier soon after; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 276, 388, 408, 430. 

George I. Cole. Scituate. Mustered as private, Aug. 8, 
1862; arrived at battery Sept. 4; harness maker soon 
after ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned: 107,216,311,354. 

Malachi Gunning. Providence. Private, Feb. ' 26, 1864 ; 
blacksmith, Sept. 26, 1864 ; it is claimed by some he left 
the battery about the 8th of May, 1865, with farrier Johns- 
ton's horse to forage and never returned. Others say he 
returned without the horse and received a pass to Wash- 
ington, May i6th, and was never heard from afterwards. 
He had been honorably discharged from a New York reg- 



500 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

iment before being enlisted by Quartermaster Sergeant 
Remington into Battery E. 
Mentioned : 276, 388. 

Musicians. 

John McKenxa. Providence. Mustered as bugler, Sept. 
30, 1861 ; slightly wounded July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, 
Pa. ; relieved as bugler, Sept. 1862 ; mustered out Oct. 3, 
1864. 
Mentioned: 15, 103, 213, 367. 

Thomas Waterhouse. Warv^^ick. Mustered as private, 
Sept. 30, 1861 ; bugler; deserted while on furlough in 
March or April, 1863 ; dropped from rolls Sept. 22, 1863. 
Mentioned : 12, 147. 

Theophilus Abieniste. Detached from Fifty-fifth N. Y. 
Infantry as bugler, probably in summer of 1863 ; recalled 
to regiment June 12, 1864. 

Leonard Steamer. South Kingstown. Mustered as pri- 
vate, Jan 12, 1862 ; re-enlisted Jan. 2, 1864; bugler; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 27, 258, 267, 276, 405. 

William Torpy. Bugler. [See Corporal.] 

Privates. 

Edward Austin. Scituate. Mustered Sept, 30, 1861 ; sent 
to hospital sick at Harrison's Landing, in July, 1862 ; 
transferred to Chester Hospital, Pa., Aug., 1862 ; then to 
Distribution Camp ; then by mistake to Battery F at 
Newborn, N, C. ; rejoined Battery E near Petersburg", 
Va., June 17, 1864 ; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned : 14, 325, 367. 

John Andrews. Augusta, Maine. Mustered Jan. 2, 1863; 
deserted Jan. 21, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142, 143. 

Stephen E. Aldrich, Cranston. Mustered March 15, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Silas A. Brown. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned : 4, 12, iG"]. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 5OI 

William H. Bailey. Westerly. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
in hospital Aug., 1862 ; returned to battery Nov. 7, 1863 ; 
in hospital again June 22, 1864 ; never returned to 
battery. 

Mentioned : 14, 242, 332, 464, 465. 
John R. Brayton. Cranston. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863 ; mustered out June 14, 1865 ; ■ 
Mentioned : 15, 216, 254, 408, 430, 444. 
Henry Binns. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
wounded severely in arm July i, 1862, at Malvern Hill, 
Va. ; sent to hospital at Washington, D. C, and then to 
Portsmouth, Grove, R. I. ; then to Convalescent Camp at 
Alexandria, Va., from which he was discharged March 
6, 1863 ; enlisted second time April 5, 1864; on detached 
service at artillery brigade sixth corps from Dec. 21, 1864, 
to April, 1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 13, 72, 437, 444. 
Jeremiah Bennett. Providence. Mustered in First Rhode 
Island Infantry May 2, 1861 ; discharged from infantry 
May 31, 1861, on surgeon's certificate; enlisted in Bat- 
tery E Sept. 30, 1 861 ; discharged on surgeon's certifi- 
cate Aug. 7, 1862. 

Mentioned : 15, 464, 465. 
Frederick L. Burden. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged March 6, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. In 
after years he became a distinguished citizen of Massa- 
chusetts. 

Mentioned : 14. 
Special reference, 464. 
Almy M. Brownell. Portsmouth. Mustered Sept. 30, 186 1 ; 
re-enlisted Dec. 14, 1863; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 13, 254, 444. 
Martin Brown. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
wounded slightly at P'redericksburg, Va., Dec. 14, 1862 ; 
wounded severely at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; trans- 
ferred to veteran reserve corps Oct. 31, 1863 ; mustered 
out Sept. 30, 1864. 

Mentioned: 12, 131, 213, 230. 



502 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Charles H. BoGMAN. Providence. Musteredin First Rhode 
Island Infantry May 2, 1861 ; wounded first battle Bull 
• Run, Va., July 21, 1861 ; mustered out of infantry Aug. 
2, 1 86 1 ; mustered as sergeant in Battery G Dec. 2, 1861 ; 
transferred to Battery E as private, March 7, 1863 ; 
wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863 ; company 
clerk from July, 1863, to muster out Dec. i, 1864. 
Mentioned: 147, 174, 178, 179, 366, 391. 
Albert M. Bennett. Foster. Mustered Feb. 14, 1862 ; 
re-enlisted Feb. i, 1864; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 30, 216, 263, 264, 267, 276. 
Sampson Burgess. Foster. Mustered Feb. 20, 1862; dis- 
charged Aug. 3, 1863, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 30, 230, 464. 
George H. Burgess. Foster. Mustered Feb. 20, 1862 ; dis- 
charged on surgeon's certificate, Nov. 5, 1862, at Provi- 
dence. 

Mentioned : 30. 
Edward BucKLiN, Jr. Warwick. Mustered Aug. 14,1862; 
discharged July 27, 1863, on surgeon's certificate, at Provi- 
dence, R. I. 

Mentioned : 107, 230. 

John Bradford. Boston, Mass. Mustered Dec 22, 1862 ; 
dropped from rolls as deserter, March 22, 1863. 

John Black. Boston, Mass. Mustered Dec. 26, 1862 ; de- 
serted Feb. 15, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 

John Buell. North Kingstown. Mustered Oct. 17, 1862; 

no other record of him. 
John Brannan. Seekonk, Mass. Mustered June 11, 1862; 
killed at battle of Kettle Run, Va., Aug. 27, 1862. 
Mentioned : 89, 91, 465. 
William Beard. Olneyville, R. I. .Mustered Aug. 6, 1862; 
killed July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa. 
Mentioned : 210, 465. 
Charles E. Baker. Concord, N. H. Mustered Jan. 2, 
1863 ; commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to a 
regiment from another state. ^ ' 

Mentioned : 142. 



FIRST R. I, LIGHT ARTILLERY. 503 

George Black. Germany. Mustered, July i, 1863 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 229. 
Andrew J. Brown. Residence and date of muster not 

known; transferred to navy, April 24, 1864. 
Mentioned : 277. 
Hiram Brant. Scituate. Mustered, Feb. 22, 1864; arrived 

at battery April 9, mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 274. 
George W. Barbour. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 22, 1864 

transferred to Battery F; mustered out June 27, 1865. 
John Brand. Coventry. Mustered Sept. 25, 1864; dis 

charged on surgeon's certificate Nov. 18, 1864. 
Mentioned : 274. 
Albert. O. Bates. Scituate. Mustered Oct. 17, 1864 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 389. 
Herbert A. Ballou. Scituate. Mustered Oct. 17, 1864 

discharged Jan. 14, 1865, by war department. 
Mentioned : 390. 
Edwin Bliss. East Providence. Mustered March 15, 1865 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Charles Burns. Long Island, N. Y. Mustered March 23 

1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Charles E. Bantems. Germany. Mustered March 20, 1865 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Wilcox Barber. Exeter. Mustered March 21, 1865; mus 

tared out June 14, 1865. 
Albert A. Bradford. Smithfield. Mustered March 14, 

1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Albert F. Brown. Residence not given ; mustered March 

13, 1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Jesse Bicknell. Warwick. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Asa Bennett. Warwick. Mustered March 23, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 
George H. Baxter. Providence. Mustered March 21, 1S65 ; 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 



504 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

William J. Burns. Milford, Mass. Mustered March i5> 

1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Frederick Borden. Fall River, Mass. Mustered March 

21, 1865, mustered out June 14, 1865. 

GusTAVUS B. Burlingame. Cumberland. Mustered March 

22, 1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Ellery Burbank. Providence. Mustered March 23, 1865 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Thomas Burns. Massachusetts. Mustered March 13, 1865 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Albert N. Colwell. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 
killed by premature explosion at battle of Kelly's Ford, 
Va., Nov. 7, 1863. 

Mentioned: 14, 147, 178, 239, 242, 465. 
John Crothers. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; mus- 
tered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned : 12, 367. 
William Crothers. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned: 13,328,367. 
Isaac Cook. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861; officers' 
cook ; discharged Jul}^ 20, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 15, 79. 
Sylvester Caknavan. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1 861 ; 
reported as paroled prisoner. Dec, 1862 ; dropped from 
rolls as deserter, Aug. 31, 1863. 
Mentioned : 13. 
Richard Conley. Pawtucket. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
reported as paroled prisoner, Dec, 1862 ; dropped from 
rolls for long absence, Aug. 31, 1863. 
Mentioned: 12. 
John Carr. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; in hos- 
pital, Aug., 1862 ; dropped as deserter, Aug. 31, 1863. 
Mentioned : 12. 
George W. Coville. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged Jan. 9, 1863 on surgeon's certificate; re- 
enlisted into Seventh R. I. Regiment Jan. 26, 1864; mus- 
tered out July 13, 1865. 
Mentioned : 13, 142. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 505 

John Colvin. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; died in 
ambulance on retreat from front of Richmond June 30, 
1862. 

Mentioned : 14, 465. 
WiLLL\M H. Cartwright. Smithficld. Mustered Sept. 30, 
1861 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate, Dec. 14, 1861. 
Mentioned : 13. 
Stephen W. Corp. Foster. Mustered Feb 19, 1862 ; 
wounded severely at Malvern Hill, Va., July i, 1862; 
sent to hospital and dropped from rolls Sept., 1862. 
Mentioned : 30, 72, 464. 
Henry O. Collins. Foster. Mustered Feb. 19, 1862; 
discharged June 18, 1862, at Fort Monroe, Va., on sur- 
geon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 30. 
Charles Chapman. Berlin, Conn. Mustered Feb., 1862; 
discharged on surgeon's certificate, at Hammond General 
Hospital, Point Lookout, Md., Nov. i, 1862. 
Mentioned : 30. 
James Clark. New York, City. Mustered Dec. 22, 1862 ; 
deserted Feb. 26, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 
Nicholas C. Curry. No residence given. Mustered Dec. 
26, 1862; deserted Feb. 26, 1863. 
Mentioned: 142. 
William Chapman, New York City. Mustered Dec. 20, 
1862; deserted, Feb. 15, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142, 
Richard Clabby. Ireland. Mustered July i, 1863 ; on de- 
tached service sixth corps artillery brigade as officers' 
orderly from Aug, 1864, to muster out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 229. 
Charles H. Cottrell. West Greenwich. Enrolled Aug. 

18, 1862 ; deserted June 30, 1863, at Frederick, Md. 
David A. Carpenter. Residence not given. Mustered Feb. 
18, 1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 408, 437. 
Charles F. Cushing. Residence not given. Mustered 
March 9, 1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. • 



506 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

David Casey. Milford, Mass. Mustered March 20,1865; 
mustered out June 20, 1865. 
Mentioned: 433. 

Charle.s Cavanaugh. Boston, Mass. Mustered March 14, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Charles Cumesky, Jr. Massachusetts. Mustered March 21, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

John Coyle. Cranston. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

James S. Campbell. Exeter. Mustered June 9, 1862; dis- 
charged on surgeon's certificate, June i, 1863. 
Mentioned : 91, 179. 

Daniel J. Canty. Residence not given. Mustered March 
9, 1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

James H. Conley. Ireland. Mustered March 17, 1865; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Thomas Carr. Residence not given. Mustered March 24, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Peter F. Carroll. Warwick, Mustered March, 24, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Edwin Carroll, Jr. Warwick. Mustered March 24, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

John J. Campbell. Residence not given. Mustered March 
18, 1865 ; mustered out July 8, 1865. 

Henry H. Colvin. Johnston. Mustered March 22, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Joseph F. Devens. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
captured June 23, 1864 by Mosby's guerrillas while for- 
aging near Petersburg, Va,, prisoner; relieved at Savan- 
nah, Ga., Dec. 10, 1864. mustered out Feb 8, 1865. 
Mentioned: 13, 332, 333, 334. 

Charles Durfee. Warwick Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged Dec. 14, 1861, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 15. ^ 

James M. Davidson. I'rovidence. Mustered Feb. 11, 1862 ; 
in hospital July, 1862 ; discharged Oct. 31, 1862, at 
Washington, D C. 
Mentioned : 30. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 507 

James M. Durfee. Foster. Mustered Feb. 26, 1862 ; mus- 
tered out Feb. 25, 1865. 
Mentioned : 30, 32, 405. 

Michael Dillon. Ireland. Mustered May 22, 1862; de- 
serted en route to battery. 
Mentioned : 91. 

Thomas Demster. Bristol. Mustered Oct., 14, 1862 ; trans- 
ferred to Battery A, and afterwards to Battery B 

William Drysdale, North Kingstown. Mustered Oct. 1862 ; 
no record of discharge. 

Lemuel A. Dodge. Providence. Mustered March 11, 1865; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

George VV. Dean. Residence not given. Mustered March 
8, 1865'; mustered out June 14, 1865, 

Edwin Derwin. Providence. Mustered March 14, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

John B. Dryly. Joined battery Dec, 21, 1864; deserted 
March 20, 1865. 
Mentioned : 396. 

Francis Elwood. Providence. Mustered March 22, 1865; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 433. 

Osborne Eddy. Cranston. Mustered March 23, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

George W. Eddy. Providence. Mustered March 23, 1865; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

George W. Fisk. Coventry. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
died of fever June 27, 1862, in front of Richmond, Va., 
buried in the field by his comrades. 
Mentioned: 14, 51, 55, 56, 465. 

Bartholomew Fitzgerald. Providence. Mustered Sept. 
30, 1861 ; company cook; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864 ; 
Mentioned : 13, 367, 464. 

Adelbert a. Fairbanks. Warwick. JVIustered Sept. 30, 

1861 ; wounded slightly at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 

1862 ; re-enlisted Dec. 14, 1863 ; mustered out June 14, 
1865. 

Mentioned: 12, 131, 254,444,464. 



508 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Hiram R. Ferris. Newburg, Ohio. Mustered into Battery 
D, July 15, 1862; in veteran reserve corps; transferred 
to Battery E Jan. 14, 1864; detached on guard duty at 
sixth corps artillery brigade, Jan. 14, 1865. 

James Fitzpatrick. Boston, Mass. Mustered Feb. 18, 
1862 ; captured May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va., 
exchanged ; transferred to first regiment invalid corps, 
Oct. 4, 1863 ; returned to battery Feb. 21, 1864; re-en- 
listed Feb. 24 ; groom at sixth corps artillery brigade 
headquarters ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned: 30, 175, 268, 277. 

Hugh Finnegax. North Kingstown. Mustered Oct. 10, 
1862 ; His name does not appear on the rolls at war 
department after muster in. 

Charles Frost. New York, City. Mustered Dec. 23, 1862 ; 
deserted Feb. 27, 1863. 
Mentioned: 142. 

George F. Franklin. Johnston. Mustered March 22, 1865 ; 
discharged May 10, 1865. 

Christopher Fitzsimmons. Ireland. Clustered March 24, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Gamaliel B Goff. Cranston. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged Jan. 29, 1863, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 13. 

Edward Galvin. Providence. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861 ; 
mortally wounded at second battle Bull Run, Va., Aug. 
29, 1862 ; died on the 30th. 
Mentioned : 95, 99, 465. 

John Groves. Olneyville, R. I. Mustered May 2"], 1862; de- 
serted en route to battery. 
Mentioned: 91. 

Patrick Graham. New York City. IMustered Dec, 22, 
1862; deserted March 19, 1863. 
Mentioned: 142. 

George W. Gleason. North Kingstown. Mustered Oct. 14, 
1862; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 119. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 5O9 

Herman Greene. Germany. Mustered July/, 1863 ; absent 
without leave Oct. and Nov., 1863 ; supposed to have 
deserted. 

Mentioned : 229. 

James Gillespie. Ireland. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

Thomas VV. D. Godfrey. Smithfield. Mustered March 16, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Parmenus W. Gleason. Cranston. Mustered March 23, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

John W. Hollahan. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
sent to hospital July 16, 1862 ; returned to duty May 26, 
1864; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned : 14, 367. 

Michael C. Hughes. Cranston. Mustered Sept 30, 1861 ; 
re-enlisted Feb. 9, 1864; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned: 13, 276, 444, 464. 

Joseph Harrop. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 186 1 ; killed 
July I, 1862, at battle of Malvern Hill, Va. 
Mentioned : 14, 68, 465. 

Alba Hopkins. Coventry. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; dis- 
charged April 5, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 14. 
John Hilton. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; dis- 
charged March 14, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 15, 31. 
John Holly. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; discharged Maixh 
6, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 12. 
William E. Hoopfr. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 186 1 ; 
re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863 ; lost part of hand by prema- 
ture explosion, June 18, 1864, in front of Petersburg, Va. ; 
discharged Oct. 17, 1864. 
Mentioned: 13, 254, 328. 
Samuel Hanney, Jr. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged on surgeon's certificate March 5, 1862. 
Mentioned : 14, 464. 



5IO HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Henry S. Holloway. Charlestown. Mustered Sept. 30, 
1861 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate May 28, 1862. 
Mentioned : 14. 

Martin Haryey. Cranston. Mustered Dec. 23, 1861 ; 
wounded, May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va ; wounded in 
hand Nov. 7, 1863, at Kelley's Ford ; mustered out Dec. 
22, 1864. 

Mentioned: 27, 61, 63, 147, 174, 177, 178, 239, 242, 
263, 396. 

James A. Hopkins. Foster. Mustered Feb. 10, 1862; dis- 
charged June 18, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 30. 

James P. Hamstox. ProYidence. Mustered June 10, 1862 ; 
discharged, Dec. 9, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 

George Higgins. Canterbury, Conn. Mustered May 19, 
1862; died Nov. 21, 1862, of sabre wound accidentally 
inflicted. 

Mentioned: 91, 121, 122,465. 

Thomas G. Haynes. Providence. Mustered Oct. 23, 1862; 
deserted. 

Emile Helfrich. Germany. Mustered July 7, 1863 ; de- 
serted from general hospital at Fairfax Seminary, Va., 
Nov. 23, 1863. 
Mentioned : 229. 

Elija Hopkins. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 22, 1863 ; trans- 
ferred to Battery F. 

James Handley. Ireland. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

T^o^^As A. Harrington. Warwick. Mustered March 24, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Christian L. F. Hoffman. Germany. Mustered March 10, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

George Hill. New Bedford, Mass. Mustered March 24, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Christian Haas. Germany. Mustered March 20, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Thomas JosLiN. Smithfield. Clustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; dis- 
charged on surgeon's certificate, March 14, 1862. 
Mentioned : 14, 45. 



FIRST R, I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 5II 

Benjamin Judd. Richmond. Mustered May 14, 1862 ; 
wounded slightly May 10, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. ; 
mustered out May 37, 1864. 
Mentioned : 91, 437. 
John Jordan. East Greenwich. Mustered Jan. 12, 1862 ; 
deserted May i, 1863. 

Mentioned: 28, 175, 464. 
Charles H, James. West Greenwich. Mustered Aug. 13, 
1862 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned: 107, 399, 434, 435. 
William Johnson. Canada. Mustered March 23, 1865 ; 
absent in general hospital, May 3, 1 865 ; no further 
record. 
♦ Mentioned: 433. 

William J. Kellers. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged, Sept. 25, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 12. 
John F. Keegan. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
;nissing at battle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863 ; 
in hospital June and July ; transferred to veteran re- 
serve corps Aug. 13, 1863 ; credited as a deserter but 
the charges of desertion are removed and he was mus- 
tered out at Providence Oct. 12, 1864. 
Mentioned : 15, 7S, 230, 464. 
Thomas Keen an. Warwick. Mustered Sept, 30, 1861 ; 
hospital Aug., 1862 ; discharged for disability at Camp 
Banks, Alexandria, Va., Jan. 25, 1863. 
Mentioned : 14. 
George H. Kelly. Providence. Mustered May 23, 1862; 
wounded severely July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; re- 
joined battery from hospital June 10, 1864; wounded 
slightly in foot June 18, 1S64, by wheel ; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 91, 213, 230, 318, 328, 408. 
William H. King. North Providence. Mustered May 23, 
1862 ; died in hospital at Point Lookout, Md., Sept. 5, 
1862. 
Mentioned: 91,465. 



5 I 2 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Thomas Kinder. Olneyville, R. I. Mustered Aug. 6, 1862 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 107, 399. 
William Kirk. New York City. Mustered Dec. 23, 1863 ; 
deserted Feb. 17, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 
Nicholas C. Keny. Providence. Mustered Dec. 26, 1862; 
deserted Feb. 15, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 

Simon W. Keene. Providence. Mustered into second regi- 
ment, June 5, 1 861 ; discharged June 10, 1862, on sur- 
geon 's certificate; mustered into battery E March 31, 
1864; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 276, 408, 430. 

Alonzo E. Kennedy. Massachusetts. Mustered March 31, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865 ; 

Henry M. Kingsley. Rhode Island. Mustered March 1 1, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Thomas Lever. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged June 23, 1863, on surgeon certificate. 
Mentioned : 13. 

Nelson Lovell. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; re- 
enlisted, Dec. 21, 1863; wagoner; mustered out June 14, 
1865. 

Mentioned : 14, 216, 240, 254, 444. 
Marvin M. Leavens. Providence. Mustered July 30, 1862 ; 
died of fever in Livingstone's Hospital March 7, 1863, near 
Falmouth, Va., 

Mentioned : 107, 147, 465. 
Morris Lyman. North Kingstown. Mustered Oct. 10, 1862 ; 

no further record. 
William Long. [Albers,] Germany. Mustered July 7, 1863 ; 
officers' cook in battery and at si.xth corps artillery bri- 
gade; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 229. 
Charles Lehman. Austria. Mustered March 16, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 
Everett Luther. Somerset, Mass. Mustered March 23, 
1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 513 

Joseph Langdo. Mustered March 9, 1865 ; Mustered out 

June 14, 1865. 
George Lawton. Mustered March 23, 1865 ; Mustered out 

June 14, 1865. 
Elias H. Mathewson. Johnston. Mustered Sept. 30,1861; 
mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned: 14, 121,216,311,367. 
Michael McKenna. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged Jan. 7, 1863, on surgeon's certificate, brother 
to John the bugler. 
Mentioned : 13. 
Emory W. Marble. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 13, 254, 385, 444. 
George Maxfield. Warren. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; dis- 
charged Dec. I, 1861, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 15. 
John Martin. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 186 1 ; deserted 
Aug. 24, 1862. 
Mentioned: 13. 
David H. Macomber. Portsmouth. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 >* 
deserted July 8, 1862, and enlisted in navy under name 
of John Smith. 

Mentioned : 14, yS. 
William H. MuLiCK. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1 861 >' 
discharged on surgeon's certificate Dec. i, 1861. 
Mentioned : 15. 
Charles A. Mulick. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged Nov. 15, 1861, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 13. 
William Mason. Warwick. Mustered Feb. 25, 1862 ; mor- 
tally wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at battle of Fredericksburg, 
Va. ; died the following day. 
Mentioned: 30, 131, 465. 
Charles Moore. Pawtucket. Mustered Jan. 12, 1862; 
wounded severely May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, \^a. ; 
died July 2, 1863, at Armory Square Hospital, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

Mentioned : 27, 175, 465. 
33 



514 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

John McCaxn. Mustered July 22, 1862 ; transferred to 

Battery D. 
Edward McCaffrey. Moosup, Conn. Mustered June 16, 
1862 ; died at City Point, Va., Oct. 28, 1864. 
Mentioned : 91, 389, 465. 
Edwin A. Matteson. West Greenwich. Mustered Aug. 
13, 1862; died Dec. 21, 1862; in hospital near Fal- 
mouth, Va., of fever. 

Mentioned: 107, 138, 139,465. • 
Malon M. Morris. Mustered July 30, 1862 ; died March 8, 
1863. 

Mentioned : 465. 
Edward Mallett. South Kingstown. Mustered Oct. 9, 

1862 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
James Maguire. Providence. Mustered Jan. 12, 1862; dis- 
charged March 14, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned: 27, 31. 
Alexander Marchant. Providence. Mustered Jan. 12, 1862; 
discharged July 20, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 27, 79. 
James Morrisey. New York City. Mustered Dec. 26, 1862 ; 
deserted March 3, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 
Thomas Malna. North Kingstown. Mustered Oct. 17, 
1862 ; his name does not appear upon the company's 
rolls at war department, in Washington. 
George Moffett. Mustered Oct 9, 1862; no record of 

discharge. 
Joseph McCarty. Winfield, N. Y. Detached from Fortieth 
New York, July 14, 1862; re-enlisted into Battery E, 
Dec. 17, 1863 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 79, 253, 314. 
John C. Morse. Warwick. Enrolled and mustered at Brandy 
Station, Va., Dec, 21, 1863; mustered out June 14, 1865, 
Mentioned : 254, 
Charles Morgan. Philadelphia. Mustered Jan. 2, 1863 ; de- 
serted Feb. 15, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 515 

James Macoon. Tiverton. Mustered Jan. 25, 1864; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 274. 

Lewis A. Medbury. Scituate. Mustered Feb. 22, 1864; 
died March 30, 1864, at Camp Barry, Washington, D. C. 
Mentioned : 465. 

Charles E. Mowry. Scituate. Mustered Oct. 17, 1864; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 390. 

William M. Minkles. Mustered March 9, 1865; mustered 
out June 14, 1865. 

Michael McKain. Mustered March 9, 1865 ; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 433. 

Edward Moore, Providence. Mustered March 10, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Frank Millard. Mustered March 10, 1865 ; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 

John McKenna. Enrolled in Second R. I. Regiment, March 
II, 1862; deserted March 27, 1862; apprehended for 
desertion Dec. 14, 1864; transferred to Battery E by 
special order, Dec. 27, 1864 ; mustered out June 17, 1865, 
at hospital. 

Mentioned : 435. 

Henry S. Marsh. Douglas, Mass. Mustered March 16, 
1865 ; mustered out probably from hospital July 27, 
1865. 

James F. Morrow. Ohio. Mustered March 20, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

James Murray. Mustered March 17, 1865, mustered out 
June 14, 1865, 

Patrick McCabe. Ireland. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

James Mather. Mustered March 21, 1865; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 

Michael McGrath. Ireland. Mustered Feb. 24, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 408. 



5l6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Thomas Nolan. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
wounded in leg by handspike in front of Petersburg, 
June 18, 1864, caused by premature explosion ; mustered 
out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned : 13, 328, 464. 

Benjamin NicKERSON. Augusta, Maine. Mustered Jan. 14, 
1862; re-enlisted Feb. 24, 1864; detached to ambulance 
corps, March, 18, 1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 27, 268, 408. 

Edward Novce. Boston, Mass. Mustered Jan. 2, 1863 ; 
deserted Jan. 21, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142, 143. 

William A. Nye. Providence. Mustered March 10, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Michael Nelligan. Mustered March 20, 186$ ; mustered 
out June 14, 1865. 

Henry Nicholas. Mustered Jan., 1863; deserted Jan., 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 

William O'Brien. Westerly.- Mustered Oct. 9, 1862; de- 
serted Oct., 1862. 

Francis O'Meara. Providence. Mustered Feb. i, 1864; 
wounded severely in arm Aug. 18, 1864 ; mustered out 
Feb. 6, 1865, on surgeon's certificate. Company tailor. 
Mentioned : 276, 354. 

George F. Ormsbee. Providence. Mustered March 9, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

John J. O'Donnell. Scotland. Mustered March 15, 1865; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Hiram A. Olney. Providence. Mustered March 23, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

William H. Phinney. Smithfield. Mustered Aug. 14, 1862 ; 
in hospital from Sept. 16, 1864, to muster out June 14, 
1865. 

Mentioned: 107, 215, 287, 359, 365. 

Elisha E. Potter. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
killed May 3, 1863, at battle of Chancellorsville, Va. 
Mentioned: 14, 174,465. 

Jeremiah Potter. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; mus- 
tered out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned: 14, 78, iio, l^j. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 517 

Thomas H. Potter. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged Feb. 7, 1863, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 13, 146, 464. 

Richard Poynton. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
prisoner June 30, 1862 ; exchanged ; returned to battery 
Sept. 26, 1862; discharged Dec. 19, 1862, on surgeon's 
certificate. 

Mentioned: 12,64, no- 

James F. Pratt. Providence. Mustered Aug. 29, 1862 ; 
died Dec. 2, 1862, from overdose of morphine, at Camp 
Pitcher, near Falmouth, Va. 
Mentioned: 107, 124,465. 

Robert Poyteren. Providence. Mustered Oct. 4, 1862 ; 
transferred to Battery H ; deserted, Nov. 2, 1862. 

Joseph Payne. England. Mustered June 24, 1863 ; in hos- 
pital April 30, 1864; discharged from hospital Oct. 31, 
1864. 
Mentioned : 229. 

William H. Paine. Wrentham, Mass. Mustered July 6, 
1863 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 229. 

John Plumb. Gloucester. Mustered March 10, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

Eugene Phipps. Massachusetts. Mustered March 16, 1865 5 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Augustus S. Paine. Pavvtucket. Mustered March 16, 1865, 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

James M. Pike. Providence. Mustered March 15, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Abner L. Phillips. Mustered March 19, 1865 ; mustered 
out June 14, 1865. 

George Potter. Mustered March 20, 1865 ; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 

LutherM. Pierce. Mass. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

Reuben Potter. Burrillville. Mustered March 30, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 



5l8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Alfred B. Ramsdell. Scitiiate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
wounded in the head Sept. 9, 1864 ; mustered out Oct. 3, 
1864. 

Mentioned : 14, 363, 367. 
Richard Russell. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
re-enHsted Dec. 21, 1863; assistant blacksmith Oct., 
1864 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned ; 12, 178, 254, 388, 444. 
Israel Riley. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; wounded 
slightly at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; captured June 23, 
1864, by Mosby's guerrillas while foraging near Peters- 
burg, Va. ; prisoner ; relieved at Savannah, Ga., Nov. 30, 
1864; mustered out Feb. 8, 1865. 

Mentioned : 13, 213, 242, 332, 333, 334. 
Richard Rose. Bristol. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; wounded 
severely July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa. ; discharged Oct. 
14, 1863, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned: 13, 213, 230, 464. 
John Riley. Cranston. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; re-en- 
listed Feb. 9, 1864 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 13, 267, 444. 
John Ryan. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; mustered 
out Oct. 3, 1864. 

Mentioned: 13, 367, 464. 
Thomas Rogers. Warren. Mustered Jan. 12, 1862; de- 
serted June 18, 1862. 
Mentioned : 27. 
David P. Riley. Roxbury, Mass. Mustered Jan. 12, 1862; 
re-enlisted Feb. 9, 1864; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 27, 267. 
David Ronan. Ireland. Mustered May 19, 1862; deserted 
en route to battery. 
Mentioned : 91. 
William Riley. New York City. Mustered Dec. 17, 1862; 
deserted Feb. 15, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 
William F. Ritchie. Centre County, Pa. ; mustered Jan. 
2, 1862; deserted Feb. 15, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 5I9 

Henry Rang. Germany. Mustered July 6, 1863; deserted 
July 17, 1864, at Washington, D C., by the advice of his 
friends ; he had some good qualities but was useless as a 
soldier. 

Mentioned : 229. 

Thomas W. D. Reynolds. Mustered March 9, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

John Riley. Providence. Mustered March 14, 1865; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

William Rose. Providence. Mustered March 14, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Edwin P. Rose, Providence. Mustered March 22, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 18(55. 

James Riley. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; mustered out 
June 14, 1865. 

Frederick H. Russell. Mustered March 18, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 

Arthur Reynolds. Mustered March 22, 1865 ; mustered 
out June 14, 1865. 

Edwin A Redding. Ohieyville. Mustered March 24, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

James Sterling. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
wounded severely May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va. ; 
transferred to veteran reserve corps Sept. i, 1863 ; mus- 
tered out Sept. 30, 1864. 

Mentioned: 14, 146, 174, 177. 

Lory Strait. Coventry. Mustered Sept. 30, 186 1 ; wounded 
slightly July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa. ; transferred to 
veteran reserve corps Sept. 30, 1863; mustered out Sept. 
31, 1864. 

Mentioned: 14, 147, 213. 

John F. Simmons. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
wagoner ; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned : 14, 230 367. 

Thomas W. Simmons. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
mustered out Oct. 3, 1864 ; brother to John F., see above. 
Mentioned : 14, 367. 

Robert Sutcliffe. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
died of fever June 27, 1862, in front of Richmond, Va. ; 
Mentioned : 12, 51, 55, 465. 



520 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

William Smith. Tiverton. Mustered Sept 30, 1861, in 
hospital sick and on duty in hospital from Dec. 23, 1861, 
to Jan., 1864; re-enlisted Feb. 9, 1864; on furlough and 
in hospital until June, 1864; rejoined battery near 
Reams' Station, Va., July i, 1864; mustered out June 
14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 13, 444. 
William M. Straight. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 186 1 ; 
discharged Sept. 19, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned : 15. 
Adolphus Strausman, Fall River, Mass. Mustered Sept. 
30, 1861 ; deserted Jan. 31, 1862 ; afterwards enlisted in 
the cavalry. 

Mentioned : 12. 
Thomas Shaw. Providence. Mustered Jan. 12, 1862; died 
in hospital, Aug. 29, 1863 ; buried at the Asylum Ceme- 
try, D. C. 

Mentioned : 27, 465. 
John Slavin. Providence. Mustered Jan. 12, 1862; died 
Aug. 23, 1862, in hospital, Pa. 
Mentioned : 27, 465. 
Darius A. Sweet. Foster. Mustered Feb. 10, 1862; 
dropped from rolls for long absence, Oct., 1862 ; deserted. 
Mentioned : 30. 
John B. Saunders. Rhode Island. Mustered May 21, 1862 ; 
discharged Aug. 6, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. 
Mentioned: 91. 
James Smith. Exeter. Mustered Oct. 10, 1862 ; transferred 

to Battery H. 
John Smith. New York City. Mustered Dec. 20, 1862; 
deserted Feb. 15, 1863. 
Mentioned : 142. 
Joseph Schultz. Switzerland. Mustered July 7, 1863 ; 
dropped from rolls for long absence, Oct., 1863. 
Mentioned : 229. 

Cornelius Sullivan Providence. Mustered May 27, 1862; 
killed Dec. 13, 1862, at battle of Fredericksburg, Va. 
Mentioned: 91, 131,465 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 52 1 

Crawford A. Sayles. Gloucester. Mustered Oct. 31, 1862 ; 
wounded severely July 2, 1863, at Getty sbug, Pa. ; de- 
tached to ambulance corps, April 24, 1864 ; died of fever 
at City Point Hospital, Aug. 27, 1864; interred at City 
Point/Va. 

Mentioned: 213, 230, 365, 465. 

Patrick Sullivan. Boston, Mass. Mustered May 27, 1862 ; 
mustered out May ij, 1865. 
Mentioned : 91, 437. 

Stewart Smith. North Kingstown. Mustered Oct. 17, 
1862 ; no record of him at war department after muster in. 

John W. Smith. Canada. Mustered March 2, 1865; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 408. 

Frederick ScHiswoLD. Germany. Mustered Oct. 14,1864; 
mustered out in hospital July 15, 1865. 

Thomas W. Sherman. Mustered March 23, 1865 ; mustered 
out June 14, 1865. 

Walter B. Smith. Providence. Mustered March 24, 1865; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Palmer B. Taylor. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned : 13, 367. 

Squire B. Tucker. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
company cook ; in hospital Aug. 30. 1862 ; transferred to 
veteran reserve corps Sept. 30, 1863; re-enlisted in vet- 
eran reserve corps ; mustered out Nov. 15, 1865. 
Mentioned : 14, 464. 

Edward Teague. Providence. Mustered May 16, 1862 ; 
mustered out May 27, 1865. 
Mentioned : 91, 437. 

Emil Thomas. Prussia. Mustered July 3, 1863 ; wounded 
severely in hand June 18, 1864, in front of Petersburg, 
Va. ; transferred to veteran reserve corps April 17, 1865. 
Mentioned : 229. 

William Tucker. Smithfield. Mustered March 13,1865; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 

Robert T. Taylor. Pawtucket. Mustered March 15, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 



522 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Amasa p. Tabor. Providence. Mustered March 15, 1865 ; 

mustered out in hospital March 10, 1865. 
Charles E. White. Cranston. Mustered Sept 30, 1861 ; 
wounded slightly at battle of Glendale Va., June 30, 
1862 ; mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned : 4, 12, 72, -^Gy. 
Gilbert A. Weaver. Scituate. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned: 14, 367. 

Albert B. Wilson. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
mustered out Oct. 3, 1864. 
Mentioned: 13. 
Henry Williams. Warwick. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
discharged on surgeon's certificate, Dec. i, 1862. 
Mentioned: 13. 

Edson Walcott.* North Kingstown. Mustered Sept. 30, 
1 861 : mustered out Oct. 3, 1864 ; died at Eddington, Me., 
Jan. 15,^ 1878, leaving a wife and four children. 
Mentioned : 13, 367. 
James H. Walsh. Providence. Mustered Sept. 30, 1861 ; 
in hospital Sept. 11, 1862; transferred to veteran re- 
serve corps, Aug. 13, 1863. 
Mentioned : 14, 78. 
Moses L. Wiggleworth. Newburyport, Mass. Mustered 
Jan. 12, 1862; discharged Nov. 15, 1862, on surgeon's 
certificate. 

Mentioned : 28. 
William C. Winslow. Foxboro, Mass. Mustered Aug. 14, 
1862; in hospital Dec, 1862; leg broke by kick from 
horse ; transferred to veteran reserve corps, Oct. 9, 
1863; discharged from Carver General Hospital, Feb. 
20, 1865. 

Mentioned ; 107, 464. 
Caleb B. Whitford. Fairhaven, Mass. Mustered July 6, 
1863, mustered out June 14, 1865 ; 
Mentioned : 229. 

* His death was not known wlien i>age 463 went to press. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 523 

William N. Whittemore. Richmond, Va. Mustered June 
20, 1863; clerk at headquarters sixth corps artillery 
brigade, from May to Aug. 23, 1864; company clerk 
from Dec. i, 1864, to muster out June 14, 1865 ; he en- 
listed in the regular army in 1866 under his correct 
name William N. Hutchinson where he still remained 
(1892), being stationed in 1892 at Fort Canby, State of 
Washington. He ranks as commissary sergeant. 
Mentioned : 229, 359, 431, 434, 444. 
James Waters. Lowell, Mass. Mustered Aug. 3, 1863 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 229. 
Edward Whiting. Attleboro, Mass. Mustered Aug. 22, 
1864; transferred to Battery F. 
Mentioned: 107. 
Robert Weidle. Detached from Pennsylvania regiment ; 
re-enlisted into battery Nov. 20, 1863; mustered out June 
14, 1865. 

Mentioned : 243, 393. 
John Wingler. Detached from One Hundred and First New 
York Infantry; re-enlisted into Battery E Dec. 21, 1863 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 254, 281. 
Marshall D. Watson. Pennsylvania. Detached from Penn- 
sylvania Infantry; re-enlisted into Battery E Dec. 21, 
1863 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned : 254, 399. 
Edward M. Whipple. Pawtucket. Mustered March 9, 

1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
John Watson. Providence. Mustered March 14, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 
Mentioned: 435. 
Albert Wight. Woonsocket. Mustered March 14, 1865 ; 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Albert T. Way. Westerly. Mustered March 14, 1865; 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
Jerome N. Weaver. Warwick. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; 
mustered out June 14, 1865. 



524 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Frank A. Walker. Pawtucket. Mustered March 21, 1865 ; 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 
George W. Whipple. Pawtucket. Mustered March 15, 

1865 ; mustered out June 14, 1865. 
George G. Young. Vermont. Mustered March 14, 1865 ; 

mustered out June 14, 1865. 

The following men were detached from the infantry regi- 
ments of other states for service in Battery E, most of them 
remaining until recalled to be mustered out with their regi- 
ments : 

Henry Allen. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June 12, 1864. 

Mentioned 79, 464. 
Julius Baker. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June, 1864. 
Abraham Davis. Fortieth N. Y. , recalled June, 1864. 
Robert JosT. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June, 1864 

Mentioned : 79, 
John Lyon. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June, 1864. 
John McAllister. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June, 1864. 

Mentioned : 79. 
Richard Manley. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June 6, 1864. 

Mentioned : 79. 
William McCormick. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June 6, 1864 ; 
slightly wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. 

Mentioned: 174. 

John Robinson. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June, 1864. 
Mentioned : 79. 

Gould E. Utter. Fortieth N. Y. ; recalled June 6, 1864. 
Mentioned : 79, 213. 

The above men came to the battery detached service, on 
July 14, 1*862. 

John Abrams was a member of the Thirty-eighth and For- 
tieth N. Y., and was on detached service in liattery E, 
from May or June, 1863, to June, 1864. 

Edwin Cleveland, Thirty seventh N. Y. ; recalled June 
12, 1864. 

Albert Phelps, regiment uncertain ; recalled June 12, 1864. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 525 

Augustus Kimball, regiment uncertain ; recalled June, 

1864. 
Theophilus Abeiniste, see Musicians, page 500. 
Jesse Drake; detached from Fourth Maine, July 14, 1862; 
recalled June 6, 1864. 
Mentioned : 79. 
Luther Childs. Seventeenth Maine, wounded severely at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; recalled April 4, 1864. 
Mentioned: 213, 230, 274. 
Albert Saunders. Seventeenth Maine ; wounded severely 
at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; recalled April 4, 1864. 
Mentioned : 213, 230, 274. 
Standish p. Reed. Seventeenth Maine; recalled April 4, 
1864. 

Mentioned : 274. 
John Beadle. Pennsylvania regiment, probably detached 
to battery, May 9, 1863; mortally wounded at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Mentioned : 210, 465. 
Frank Martin. Pennsylvania regiment, probably detached 
to battery May 9, 1863 ; mortally wounded at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Mentioned: 210, 465. 
Oliver Skinner. One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsyl- 
vania ; wounded severely in arm at Gettysburg, Pa., July 
2, 1863, never returned to battery from hospital. 
Mentioned: 213. 
Edmund M. Jackson, probably Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania ; 
wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; recalled June 
12, 1864. 
Mentioned : 213, 227. 
Owen McGraph, probably Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania ; re- 
called June 12, 1864. 
Alvin Hilton, Pennsylvania regiment ; killed at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Mentioned: 210,465. 

Jewett, regiment uncertain ; wounded severely at 

Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; never returned to battery. 
Mentioned: 213. 



5^6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

William Kain, Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania ; wounded in side 
at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Mentioned: 213. 

John Zinn, regiment uncertain ; killed at Chancellorsville, 
Va., May 3, 1863. 

Mentioned: 174,465. 

Patrick Hogan, regiment uncertain ; wounded at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Mentioned: 213. 
John Harrihan, see corporals, page 496. 
Lawrence Martin, regiment uncertain. 
Franklin Estes, regiment uncertain. 

John Wagener, regiment uncertain ; recalled June 6, 1864. 
James McRoy, regiment uncertain. 
Mentioned : 175. 

Michael Rhule, regiment uncertain ; slightly wounded at 
Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. 
Mentioned : 174, 213. 
John Earl, regiment uncertain, slightly wounded at Chan- 
cellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863 ; deserted. 
Mentioned : 174. 

John Eagan, regiment uncertain ; deserted. 
Butler, regiment uncertain. 

The following men were detached from the Fourth N. Y. 
Heavy Artillery, Sept. 14, 1864. 

John H. Hall. Guidon; recalled May 31, 1865. 

Mentioned : 405. 
Ira Vosburg, see corporals, page 498. 
Michael Pendergrass, see corporals, page 497. 
William Cook, see corporals, page 497. 
Richard T. Beard, see corporals, page 497. 
Michael Boland, recalled May 31, 1865. 
Thomas McDonough ; recalled May 31, 1S65. 
John Riley; recalled May 31, 1865. 
Henry Wilder; recalled May, 31, 1865. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 527 

Daniel Torpy ; recalled May 27, 1865. 

Mentioned : 437. 
David H. Vanness ; recalled May 27, 1865. 

Mentioned : 437. 

The following sixty-two men were detached from Battery 
A, New Jersey Light Artillery [Captain Parsons], for perma- 
nent duty, thirty three reported Oct. 16, 1864, twenty three 
on the 20th and six on the 22d : 
William Freedman, see corporals, page 498. 
Henry Atkinson, recalled May 31, 1865. 
Thomas Gallon, " " 

Patrick Carroll, " 

Andrew Clark, " 

Richard Curry, " " 

James Davis, 

William Emerson, " " 

Louis Fausal, " 

George Francis, " " 

Patrick Fagan, " 

Frank Graw, " 

Frantz Cowling, " 

Otto Grosse, " 

Daniel Harnett, " 

Henry Hendkickson, " 
Edward Jones, " 

Conrad Kurtz, " 

George Knoble, " 

Leonard Kerler, " 

Frederick Kresbach, " 
George Lurick, " 

Daniel McGee, 
William McKay, 

Thomas McGovern, " " '| 

William Readle, " " 

William Steeve, " " 

Abram Stillwell, " " 

Henry Schultz, 
Christopher Stoetzel," 
John H. Schneider, " 
Mentioned : 433. 



528 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Christian Schultz, recalled May, 31, 1865, 
John C. Sanford, " " " 

Noble Tracy, " " " 

Edward Wolch, " " " 

John Weldon, " " " 

Jacob Wilde, " " " 

Joseph Willman, " " " 

Charles A. Weise, ) ^ ■ ,, ,, 

Charles E. Weise, \ ^'^"^^• 
Laurence Waters, " " " 

John Weinman, " " " 

Theodore Wilhelm, " " " 

Max Yager, 

Joseph Miller, detailed Oct. 27, 1864, as permanent guard 
at sixth corps artillery brigade headquarters. 

Mentioned : 387. 
Rudolph Juker, detailed same as Miller. 

Mentioned : 387. 
Robert Snow, detailed also same as Miller. 

Mentioned: 387. 
Louis J. Morgan, detailed same as three preceding. 

Mentioned: 387. 
James O'Brien, detailed April 29, 1865, as guard to Head- 
quarters artillery reserve Army of the Potomac. 

Mentioned : 399. 
Otto Will, detailed same as O'Brien. 
Theodore White, detailed also same as O'Brien. 
William Hanan, detailed same as three preceding, was also 
previously detailed to some headquarters as guard while 
at Fort Wadsworth, Va. 
William Mings, detailed to ambulance corps, March, 1865. 

Mentioned : 408. 
Joseph Kellner, detailed same as Mings. 

Mentioned : 408. 
Nathan J. Coon, sent to hospital Oct. 27, 1864. 

Mentioned : 464. 
Frederick Schiswoll, sent to N. J. hospital, no date. 
Battey H. Rowan, sent to hospital, Dec. 16, 1864. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 529 

William Wells, sent to hospital March 15, 1865; he was 
in poor health and was employed as company tailor. 
Mentioned : 408. 
John C. Dow, disabled by kick of horse soon after joining 
battery, and sent to hospital and discharged March 14, 
1865. 
Jeremiah H. Devine, \alias Donevan], transferred May 21, 
1865, to provost marshal at Alexandria, Va., as deserter. 
Mentioned : 436. 
Charles Walters, same as Devine. 

Mentioned: 436. 
James Smith, same as two preceding. 
Mentioned : 436. 

The three last named deserted before enlisting in the* 
Jersey battery. Three of these on detailed service at head- 
quarters returned in time to accompany those recalled on 
the 31st of May, 1865. 

This battery was mustered out of service at Trenton, 
N. J., June 22, 1865. 
34 




530 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



Rhode Island Troops Mentioned. 



First Regiment, (3 months,) i, 2, 4, 9, 94, 469. 

Second Regiment, (3 years,) 2, 9, 1 5, 224, 469. 

Fourth Regiment, (3 years,) 3, 6, 7, 15, 25, 118, 135, 469' 

Seventh Regiment, (3 years,) no, 118, 133, 142, 350. 469. 

Ninth Regiment, (3 months,) 469. 

Tenth Regiment, (3 months,) 469. 

Eleventh Regiment, (9 months,) 469. 

Twelfth Regiment, (9 months,) 133, 135, 4^9- 

Third Heavy Artillery, (3 years,) 469. 

Fifth Heavy Artillery, (3 years,) 469. 

Fourteenth Heavy Artillery (Colored,) (3 years,) 469. 

First Cavalry, (3 years,) 121, 124, 176. 

First Light Battery, (3 months,) i, 9. 

Battery A (3 years,) 2, 3, in, 127, 132, 135, 151, 176, I94, 

217, 224, 282, 466, 469 
Battery B, (3 years,) 2, 28, 120, 133, 135, 139. ^S^> i7<5, I94, 

217, 224, 282, 337, 466, 469- 
Battery C, (3 years,) 3, 10, 22, 33, 37, 67, i35. 176, 224, 278, 

298, 337. 338, 339. 417, 465. 467. 469- ^ ^ 
Battery D, (3 years,) 3, 10, 15, 22, 135, 282, 467, 469. 
Battery F, (3 years,) 282, 325, 467, 469. 
Battery G, (3 years,) 39, 135. ^76, 224, 298, 339, 404. 406, 

417, 466, 469. 
Battery H, (3 years,) 469. 
Tenth Battery, (3 months,) 469. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 53 1 



ERRATA. 



The reader is requested to make the following corrections 

Page 14 for Lazelle, harness-maker, read carriage-maker. 

Page 14 for Carney, carriage-maker, read harness-maker. 

Page 14 for Elisha Potter, read Elisha E. Potter. 

Pages 14-147 for Lowry Strait, read Lory Strait. 

Page 22 for Merrill, read Morell. 

Page 22 for Stahl's, read Stahel's. 

Page 22 for Frisbie, read Frisby. 

Pages 33-37 for Morrell, read Morell. 

Pages 33-58 for Nagle's, read Naglee's. 

Pages 42-48 for Hobart Ward, read J. H. Hobart Ward. 

Page 47 for Colton, read Colston. 

Page 60 for Colvvell, read Caldwell. 

Page 105 for Mindell, read Mindill. 

Page 109 for Chace, read Chase. 

Pages 111-215-263 for Gardner, read Gardiner. 

Page 115 for Ashley's Gap, read Ashby's Gap. 

Pages 132-163 for Livingston's, read Livingstone's, 

Page 141 for Lieut. Harn, read Lieut. Nairn. 

Pages 146, 346, 350, 357 for Wilcox, read Will cox. 

Page 155, for Rickett's, read Pickett's. 

Pages 156-166 for Dimrick's, read Dimick's. 

Page 165 for Eagan, read Egan. 

Page 179 for Eighth Corps, read Sixth Corps. 

Page 197 for Col. Rourke, read Col. Rorke. 

Pages 200 203, for Brooks's, read Brooke's. 

Page 200 for York's, read Zook's. 

Page 203 for York, read Zook. 

Page 213 for Ruble, read Rhule. 

Pages 215-238 for Sergt. Humphreys's, read Humphrey's. 

Page 254 for Sergt. Humphreys, read Humphrey. 



532 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 

Pages 203, 207, 223 and 335 for (Gen.) Humphrey's read 
Humphreys's. 

Page 219 for Hay's, read Hays's. 

Page 220 for Hayes, read Hays. 

Page 254, the name of (J. C.) Morse appears among those 
re-enlisting ; he was enrolled and mustered instead. 

Pages 240-262 for Kearney, read Kearny, 

Page 264 for Edward Chandler, read Edward A. Chandler. 

Page 286 for Johnson's, read Johnston's. 

Page 288 for Owens, read Owen. 

Page 297 for R. H. Johnston, read R. D. Johnston. 

Page 298 for Fourth Maine, read Fifth Maine. 

Page 300 for Keating's, read Kitching's. 

Page 359 for Fourt, read Fort. 

Page 368 for April, 1881, read April, 1861. 

Page 380 for June 30th., read June 22d. 

Page 422 for Gen. Smith, read Gen. Smyth. 

Page 386 for Lieut. Periigo of Capt. Dorsey's First Ohio 
Battery, read Lieut. Ferine of L First New York Bat- 
tery. 

Page 423 for Clarke's, read Crook's Cavalry 

Page 465, for Malon H. Morris, read MalonM. 

The asterik (*) following the word doubt on page 202 
should follow the word succession on page 201, and the 
foot note to which it refers should be on page 201. 

Page 473 for batis read batter. 

For William Whittemore, read Wm. N. Whittemorc wher- 
ever found. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



INDEX OF NAMES 

MENTIONP:n NOT BELONGING TO BATTERY. 

Confederate are designated by the Letter (C). Otficers are given tlie Ranli lield at close 

of War. 



Alexander, E. Porter, (C), Brig.-Gen., 

195, 108, 205, 206, 207, 223. 
Allen, Geo. D., Capt., .33. 
Ames, Nelson, Capt., 104, 108, 200. 
Ainsden, Frank P.. Capt., 128. 
Anderson, Richard H., (C), Lieut.- 

Gen., 126, 155, 16L 162, 167, 173, 201, 

202, 203, 250. 280, 308, 413. 
Anderson, Geo. B., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

47, 70. 
Anderson, Geo. T., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

10.5, 108, 202, 205. 
Archer, James J., (C), Brig.-Gen., 180, 

100. 
Armistead, Lewis A., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

60, 70, 224. 
Arnold, Samnel G., Lt.-Gov. R. I., 1. 
Aschinan. Lieut., 238. 
Atwood, John (Citizen), 240. 
Austin, Katharine H., (Citizen), 258. 
Averell, Win. W., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

.36, 75, 130, 155. 
Ayres, Romeyn B., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

204, 298, 349, 3.5(>, 357, 378, 414, 415, 

427. 

Babbitt, Jacob, MaJ., 133. 
I faith is, W. L., (C), Cant., 68, 60. 
Bancroft, Eugene A., Lieut., 141. 
Banks, Natlianiel P., Ma.i.-Gen , 19, 

32, 86, 106, 108, 113. 
Barksdale, Wm., (C). Brig.-Gen., 195, 

108, 200, 201, 203, 204, 205, 207, 208, 

209, 211, 223. 
Barlow, Francis C, Maj.-Gen., 161, 

223, 282, 303, 325, 344, 355, 422, 42.3. 
Barnes, James, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 197, 

100, 201, 204. 208. 
Barry, Wm. F., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 16, 
Bartiett, Joseph J,, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

55, 288, 347, 427. 
Bayard, Geo. D., Brig.-Geu., 116. 
35 



Beam, John E., Capt., 23, 24, 33, 51, 
67, 71. 

Beardsley, Henry, shot, 234. 

Beauregard, (Pierre) Gustave Toutant, 
(C), General, 323, 3.56. 

Benham, Henry W., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen., 22,322. 

Benjamin, feanuiel N., Lient.-Col., 
105. 

Benning, Henry L., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

105, 108. 

Berdan, Hiram, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 33, 
161. 

Berry, Hiram G., Maj.-Gen., 33, 42, 47, 
50, 60, 67, 75. 85, 101, 102, 103, 104, 107, 
120, 145, 154, 157, 160, 164, 166, 167, 
168, 160. 176, 273. 

Biddle. Chapman, Col.. 80th N.Y., 100. 

Biles, Edwin R., Col. 00th Pa., 363, 

Bigelow, John, Cai)t., 104, 108, 199. 

Birney, James G., 384. 

Birney, William (brother of D. B. 

Birney), Brevet Maj.-Gen., 3.55. 

Birney, David B., Maj.-Gen., 33, 42, 
47, 48, 50, 50, 67, 70, 71, 75, 83, 8.5, 86, 
03, 05, 08, 00, 101, 103. 104. 109, 110, 
114, 142, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 1,52, 154, 
157, 1.50. 160, 161, 162, 163, 1(54, 166, 170, 
172, 17.3, 176, 178, 170, 180, 18.3, 103, 104, 

106, 107, 100, 200, 201, 203, 205, 206, 211, 
223, 226, 220, 230, 231, 2.33, 234, 237, 238, 
230, 24(). 248, 250, 251, 252, 260, 261, 273, 
282, 208, 300, 303, 312, 313, 324, 326, 342, 
343, 355, 382, 383, 384, 478, 479, 480, 481. 

Blenker, Loui.s, Brig.-Gen., 10, 22, 32. 
Bliss, Zenas R.. Col., 3.50. 
Booth, John Wilkes, 431, 433. 
Bowen, Edward R , Major, 202. 
Bramhall, Walter M., Capt., 33. 
Brastow, Henry B., Capt, 4. 
Braxton, Carter M., (C), Lieut.-Col., 
96. 



534 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



Breckinridge, John C, (C), Maj.-Gen., 

311. 
Brinckle, John K., Lieut., 299. 
Briscoe, Joseph C. (some records liave 

it James), lirevet Brig.-Gen., 80. 
Brockenbroiigh, J. M., (C), Col. Comd. 

Brig., 190. 
Brooke, John It., Col., [see ErrataJ, 

200, 203. 
Brooks, Wm. T. H., Brig.-Gen., 22,57, 

127, 154, 157, 309. 
Buchanan, iiobert C, Brevet Maj.- 
Gen., 75. 
Buell, Don Carlo.s, Maj.-Gen., 19, 
Buffum, Martin P., Lieut.-Col., 347. 
Buford, John, Maj.-Gen., 155, 1S4, 232; 

died of disease Dec. 10, 1863. 
Burbank, Sidney, Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

204. 
Burns, Wni. W., Brig.-Gen., 60, 61, 

127. 
Burling, Geo. C, Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

193, 197, 199. 
Burnside, Ambro,se E , Maj.-Gen., 1, 

82, 86, 113, 116. 117, 120, 122, 123, 125, 

133, 134, 138, 139. 141, 143, 144, 145, 278, 

282, 285, 291, 294, 295, 297, 300, 303, 307, 

308, 311, 312, 313, 325. 320, 343, 344, 345, 

347, 349, 350, 3H5, 406. 
Burt, Edwin, Major, 96. 
Butler, Benj. F , Maj.-Gen., 2G4, 305, 

308, 323, 324, 329, 343, 411, 412. 
Butler, John H., Lieut. G, 2d U. S. 

Battery, 63. 
Butler, Mathevv C, (C), Maj.-Gen., 

335 
Butterfield, Daniel, Maj.-Gen., 22, 33. 

132, 141, 184. 

Cabell, Henry C, (C), Col., 198, 207. 

Caldwell, John V., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
60, 70, 199, 200, 203, 204. 

Carpenter, Joseph, (C), Capt., 68, 69. 

Carr, Joseph B., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
59, 62, 89, 141, 168, 176, 209, 246, 248. 

Carroll, Samuel S., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
286, 288, 29.3, 297. 

Casey, Silas, Maj.-Gen., 32, 47, 49,110, 
252, 271, 281, 317. 

Cavada, Frederick F., Col., 202. 

Chamberlain, Joshua L., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen., 413. 

Chambliss, John U., (C), Brig.-Gen., 
353, 356. 

Chase, Salmon P., Secretary of Treas- 
ury, 9, 15. 

Clieradic or Gherardie, , (C), Brig.- 
Gen., 356. 

Clark, A. Judson, Capt., 85, 141, 157, 
1,59, 160, 161, 164, 166, 180, 194, 198, 
199, 223. 

Clark, Joseph C, Jr., Capt., 89. 



Cobb, Thomas II. R., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

133. 
Cochrane, John, Brig.-Gen., 139. 
Colburn, A. V., IJeut.-Col., 33. 
Collis, Charles H. T., Brevet Waj.- 

Gen., 112, 1.32, 202, 229, 232, 473. 
Cooper, James H., Capt., 128, 130,136. 
Cooper, Samuel, (C), Adj. and Insp. 

Gen., 107. 
Colston, Raleigh E., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

47, 155, 162. 
Corbett, Boston. 433. 
Couch. Darius N., Maj.-Gen., 32, 47, 

66, 67, 70, 71, 72, 127, 141, 145, 154, 157, 

159, 169, 172, 174, 180. 
Courtney, A. R., (C), Capt., 68. 
Cowan, Andrew, Capt., 293, 427. 
Craig, Calvin A., Col., 202. 
Crawford, Samuel W., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen., 205, 282, 303, 307, 325, 356, 357, 

400, 401, 415, 427. 
Crenshaw, W. G., Capt., 96. 
Cross, Edward E., Col., 199. 
Crook, Geo., Maj.-Gen., 42.3, 425. 
Curtiu, Andrew G., Gov. Pa., 148. 
Curtin, John 1., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

325. 
Custer, Geo. A., Maj.-Gen., 30.5, 425, 

427. 
Cutler, Lisander, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

189, 190, 303, 356, 358. 

Dailey, Mrs. Charlotte F., 25. 
Dana, Napoleon J. T., Maj.-Gen., (il. 
Daniel, Julius, (C), Brig -Gen., 217, 

297, 
Davis, Jefferson, Brest. C. S. A., 419, 

435. 
Davis, Joseph R., (C), Brig.-Gen., 190, 

191, 356. 
Day, Hannibal, Col., 204. • 
Dekay, Drake, Lieut., 84. 
DeRussey, GuNtavus A., 70. 
Devens, Charles, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

154. 
Deven, Thomas C, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

427. 
DeWitt, Henry A., Lieut, 9. 
Dix, John A , Maj.-Gen., 19. 
Dimick, Justin E., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

141, 155, 166. 
Dodge, Theo. A., Col., 162. 
Doles, Geo., (C), Brig.-Gen., 246, 312. 
Dorsey, Stei.hen W., Capt., 299, 305, 

327, 339, 386, 388. 
Doubleday, Abner. Maj.-Gen., 136, 

154, 190, 191, 205, 217, 219. 
Douty, Jacob, Lieut., 345. 
Duane, James C, Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

322. 
Dupont, Samuel F., Rear Admiral, 2. 
Durell, Geo. VV., Capt., 89. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



535 



Dushane, Nathan T., Col., 358. 

Eaiij-, Jubal A., (C), Lieut.-Gen., 69, 

95. 126, 155, 183, 191, 307, 338, 341, 355. 

384, 411. 
Eaton, John B., Capt., 427. 
Edwards, Oliver, Brevet Maj.-Gen. 

290. 
Elliott, Stephen, Jr., (C), Brig.-Gen. 

346. 
ElLsworth, Ephralm Elmer, Col., 17. 
Ely, Ralph, Brevet Brig.-Gen., 420. 
Egan, Tliomas W., Brevet Maj.-Gen. 

165. 
Emory, Wm. H., Maj.-Gen., 42. 
Ewing, Wm. A., Lieiit., 327. 
Eustis, Henry L., Brig.-Gen., 205, 290 
Ewell, Richard y., (C), Lieut.-Gen. 

55, 69, 88, 89, 90, ISO, 182, 191, 194 

201, 222, 223, 236, 243, 244, 2s3, 284, 295. 

300, 308, 312, 422, 431. 

Farnsworth, Elon J., Brig.-Gen., 221 

223. 
Ferrero, Edward, Brevet Maj.-Gen. 

282. 344, 350, 392. 
Fields, Charles W., (C), Maj. Gen. 

422. 
Forno, Henry, (C), Col., 96. 
Foster, Robert y., Brevet Maj.-Gen. 

419, 425. 
Franklin, Wm. B., Maj.-Gen., 19, 22. 

30, 31, 32, 39, 46, 57, 58. 67, 100, 101 

120, 12(;, 127, 128, 129, 132, 136, 146. 
Franklin, Emelin, Col.. 169. 
Fremont, Jolm C, Maj.-Gen., 86. 
French, Wm. H., Maj.-Gen., 48, 1.32 

154, 180, 22(), 230, 232, 236, 239, 243, 245 

247, 248, 250, 251. 
Frisby, Edward, Col., 22. 

Garland, Samuel, Jr., (C), Brig.-Gen. 

47. 
Garnett, Richard B., (C), Brig -Gen. 

224. 
Garrison, Lieut., 238. 
Geary, John \V., Brevet Maj.-Gen. 

155, 168, 172, 192, 193, 217. 
Getty, Geo. VV., Brevet Maj.-Gen. 

146. 282, 284, 288, 836. 427. 
Gibbon, John, Maj.-Gen., 98, 129,130 

154, 157, 206, 219, 220, 282, 303, 417, 418 

419, 425, 42,S. 
Goddard, Wm., Major, 9. 
Gordon, James B., (C), Brig -Gen. 

183, 305. 
Gordon, John B., (C), Lieut.-Gen. 

286, 400, 409, 418,422. 
Gove, Jesse A., Col., 39. 
Gracie, Archibald, (C), Brig.-Gen. 

325. 



Grant, Ulysses S., Lieut.-Gen., 272, 
273, 274, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286. 
288, 297, 301, 304, 320, 324, 344, 345, 349, 
350, 385, 402, 410. 411, 415, 419, 420, 423, 
424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432. 

Graham, Charles K., Maj.-Gen., 161, 
162, 166, 168, 176, ISO, 193, 200, 202, 211, 
223, 233, 273. 

Graham, Wm. M., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 
85. 

Greeley, Horace, 73. 

Gregg, David McM., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen., 155, 244, 282, 288, 400. 

Griffin, Charles, Maj -Gen., 33, 54, 55, 
132, 154, 156, 158, 282, 303, 356, 378, 400, 
413, 421, 423, 425, 427. 

Griffin, Simon G., Brig.-Gen.. 325. 

Grover, Cuvier, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 59, 
62, 96, 97, 101, 103. 

Hall, Norman J. (probably) Col., 33. 
Halleck, Henry W., Maj.-Gen., 82,97. 

120, 123, 186. 
Halsted, Wm., Col., 19. 
Hamilton, Charles S., Maj.-Gen., 32, 

33, 36. 
Hampton, Wade, (C), Lieut.-Gen., 

69. 
Hampton, Robert B., Capt., 166. 
Hancock, Winfield S., Maj.-Gen., 22, 

58, 132, 154, 169, 172. 180. 192, 199, 204, 

206, 220, 223, 280, 281, 282. 284. 285, 

28(5, 288, 290, 291, 294, 295, 297, 300, 301, 

303, 306, 308, 311, 312, 323, 324, 344, 345, 

349, 357, 3(!3, 391. 
Hardie, James A., Brevet Maj -Gen., 

184, 185. 
Haru, Wm. A., Capt., 287, 298, 307, 

334, 339, 363, 366, 381, 386, 387, 390, 

392, 393. 
Harris, Thomas M., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

419. 
Hart, Orson H., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

164. 
Hartranft, John F., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

392, 400, 409, 428. 
Hatch, John P., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 97. 
Hawkins, Rush C, Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

126. 
Hayes, Joseph, Brig.-Gen., 357. 
Hays, Alexander, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

60, 219, 220, 264, 282. 288. 
Hays, Wm., Brig.-Gen., 168, 418, 427, 

432. 
Hays, Harry T., (C), Brig.-Gen., 96. 
Hayman, Samuel B., Brevet Brig.- 
Gen., 20, 140, 149, 161, 162. 164. 
Hazard, John G., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

13.3, 22.5, 381, 430. 
Hazlett, Charles E., Lieut., 197. 
Ilazzard, Geo. W., Capt., 58. 



536 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



Heintzelinan, Samuel P., Ma.i.-Gen., 
17 19, 22, 26, 32, 46, 51, 67, 6S, 69, 71, 
84'. 85, 86, 94, 9(), 100, 108, 109, 110, 113, 
146, 150. 

Henry, M. W., (C), Major, 198. 

Heth, Henry, (C), Maj.-Gen., 218, 219, 
356, 357, 422. 

Hexainer, Wni., Capt., 299, 382. 

Hill, Ambrose P., (C), Lieut.-Gen., 5o, 
54, 55, 86, 88, 95, 96, lOl!, 116, 126, 155, 
162, 180, 190, 191, 194, 201, 202, 204, 221, 
222 223 233, 2:;(i, 24:;, 2s;!, 284, 285, 286, 
302, 311, 3.57, 35S. ;;7S, 400, 4-20. 

Hill, Daniel H., (C), Lieut.-Gen , 4(, 
53,55, 71, 116, 155. ,, . ^ 

Hinks, Edward W., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
323, 324. 

Hoke, Robert F., (C), Maj.-Gen., 307, 

Holmes, Theophilus H., (C), Lieut.- 

Hood," John B., (C), Gen., 55, 69, 126, 
130, 155, 195, 197, 202, 204, 394. 

Hooker, Joseph, Maj.-Gen., 19, 32, 33, 
40 41, 42, 47, 48, 50, 52, 58, 62, 67, 70, 
7l' 73 82, 88, 89, 90, 92, 96, 98, 99, 101, 
104, 106, 108, 117, 120, 123, 124, 128, 132, 
133, 143, 144, 145, 146, 148, 149, 150, 151, 
1,52 1.53, 154, 155, 158, 160, 161, 164, 172, 
173, 180, 184, 185, 186,273, 282, 382, 385, 

Horn, John W., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

Howard, Oliver O., Maj.-Gen., 48,126, 
132, 154, 160, 161, 162, 163, 166, 174, 
I'll 

Howe, Albion V., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
127, 154. 

Huger, Benj., (C), Maj.-Gen., 59, 60. 

Huger, Frank, (C), Major, 207. 

Humphreys, Lewis IL, 271, 444. 

lluiiiphreys, Andrew A., Maj.-Gen., 
i:;2 1.54 156, 1.58, 180, 194, 200,201, 
'>0''' 20;; 204, 205, 206, 223, 226, 238, 
244' 245, 247. 2()4, 273, 286, 293, 297, 
298, 312, 391, 400, 413, 415, 418, 420, 
421' 422, 42.5, 427. 

lluiiliugton, James F., Capt, 167. 

Hunt, Henry J., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
19, 67, 154, 195, 205, 218, 230, 279, 327, 

Hunter, David, Maj.-Gen., 338, 355. 
Hunter, , (C), Brig -Gen., 288. 

Ingalls, Rufus, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 53. 

Jackson, C. Fegar, Brig.-Gen , 129. 

Jackson, Thonuis J., (C), Lieut.-Gen., 
.53, 54, 5,5, 5S. .59, (W, (Ht, 86, 88, S9, 9:., 
94 9.5, 97, 100, 101, 105. 1 IC), 12:'., 124, 
l-'6 12s, 155, 162, 164, lt'>5, 16»), Km, 
168, 172,217, :502. 



Jame.son, Charles D., Brig.-Gen., 19, 
20, 22, 33, 42, 43, 47 ; died of disease 
in' Maine Nov. 6, 18()2. 
Jastram, Geo. B., 110, 212, 275. 
Jenkins, Albert G., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

183, 288. 
Jenkins, Micah, (C), Brig.-Gen., ii. 
Johnson, Edward, (C), Maj.-Geu.,217, 

220, 246, 247, 295, 422. 
Johnson, Andrew, (Ex-Prest.), :j50. 
Johnston, Josepli E., (C), General, 18, 

411, 420, 43:1, 436. . 

Johnston, Robert D., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

286, 297. 
I Joinville, Prince de -— , 22. 
Jones, John R., (C), Brig.-Gen., 69. 
Jones, Samuel, (C), Maj.-Gen., 288. 
Jordan, T. C, (C), Capt., 223. 

Kane, Thomas L , Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

Kautz, August v., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

323, 335, 336. 
Kearny, Philip. Maj.-Gen 22, 30, ol 
39 40 41, 42, 47, 49, 50, 52, 58, 59, bO, 
61! (J2', 64, ()5, ijii, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 
78. 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 
96 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 
106, 108, 109, 140, 150, 151, 178, 261, 
273, 382, 383, 477, 479, 480, 481. _ 

Kelley, Patrick, Col. Comd. Brigade, 
199. 

Kellogg, Lieut., :j81. 

Keinpet James L., (C), Maj. Gen., 47. 

Kersliaw, Joseph B., (C), Maj.-Gen., 
195 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 203, 204, 
208, 308,344, 4:U. ,^ . ^ _ „„ 

Keyes, Erasmus D., Maj.-Gen., 32, 36, 
46, 51, 56, 66. 

Kilpatrick, Judson, Maj.-Gen., 220, 
''36 

Krmball, Melville C, Lieut , 298 

King, Rufus, Brig. Gen., 22, o2, 83, 93, 
97. 

King.sbury, Henry \y., 70. 

Kirby, Edmund, Bng.-Gen., 1<3. _ 

Kitcliing, J. Howard, Brevet Brig.- 
Gen., 300; died of wounds Jan. 10, 
1865. 

Knight, JabezC, 18, 2o. 

Langdon, Loomis L., Capt., 420. 
Latham, Alex. C, (C), Capt., 9f.. 
Lawton! Alex. R. (C), Bng.-Gen., 69, 

Law, E. INIcIver, (C), Maj.-Gen., 69, 

''''0 
Ledlie, James H., Brig.-Gen., 345, 34(., 

Lwf Robert E., (O, (General 53 86 87 
9;( 94, 104, 109. 114, 12:5, 12.., 139, 143, 
145, 155, 158, 160, 17;i, 180, 181, 182, 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



537 



183, 195, 196, 201, 218, 220, 231, 232, 
234, 240, 242, 243, 244, 247, 249, 282, 
283, 28(), 295, 297, 300, 301, 304, 307, 
312, 315, 319, 320, 321, 335, 344, 348, 
350, 356, 357, 401, 404. 409, 411, 413, 
418, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 426, 
427, 430. 

Lee, G. W. Custis, (C), Maj.-Gen., 
(son of Robert E.,) 431. 

Lee, Fitz Hugh, (C), Maj.-Gen., (son 
of Robert E.). 87, 307, 334, 335. 

Lee, William H. F.. (C), Maj.-Gen., 
(son of Robert E.), 356, 358. 

Leppien, Geo. F., Capt., 131, 136, 137, 
173. 

Lewis, Samuel, Lieut., 156, 164, 169, 
170. 

Lincoln, Abraham, (Ex-Pres.), 1, 2, 
15, 22, 78, 116, 117, 120, 144, 149, 184, 
185, 341, 350, 389, 410, 431, 432, 436. 

Lincoln, Marv, (wife of President), 
22, 149, 341, 410. 

Livingstone, LaRhett L., Capt., 113, 
118, 130, 131, 132, 136, 137, 155, 161, 
163. 

Lockwood, Henry H., Brig.-Gen., 206. 

Longstreet, James, (C), Lieut. -Gen., 
47, 53, 54, 55, 59, 93, 94, 97, 116, 123, 
126, 132, 133, 180, 194, 195, 205, 207, 
218, 220, 221, 222, 223, 231, 282, 285, 
286, 288, 289, .308, 407, 422. 

Ludlow, Beuj. C, Major and A. D. C , 
248. 

Lyman, Daniel, (Judge), 258. 

Maffett, Robert C, (C), Major, 199. 

Magruder, John R., (C), Maj.-Gen., 36, 
54, 70. 

Mahone, Wm., (C), Maj.-Gen., 59, 161, 
298, 335. 

MansfieUI, Joseph K. F., Maj.-Gen., 
84; died of wounds received at bat- 
tle of Antietani, Sept. 18, 1862. 

Marks, Dr. J. J., 73. 

Marshall. Charles, (C), Col., 426. 

Martin, Augustus P., Capt., 3.3, 67. 

Martindale, John H , Brevet Mnj.- 
Gen., 22, ,33, 53, 73, .325, 326, 327. 

Massie, John L , (C), Capt., 239. 

Matteson, Geo., 139. 

Mauran, Edward C, Adj. -Gen. of 
R. I., 251. 

McCall, Geo. A., Brig.-Gen., 19, 22, 
32, 5H, 58, 59, 60, 62, 66. 

McCandles.s, Wm., Col. Comd. Bri- 
gade. 206 

McCartney, Wm. IL, Capt., 293, 298, 
339. 

McCarty, Justus I., Col., .3, 5. 

McClelian, Geo. B., Maj.-Gen., 22, .32, 
3.3, 36, 49, .50, 53, 58, 62, (il, 77, 78, .SO, .S2, 
86, 108, 114, 116, 117, 145, ;{62, .389, 40(). 



McDowell, Irvln, Maj.-Gen., 2, 19, 21, 

22, .32, 53, 83, 86, 88, 93, 94, 97, 98, 101, 

106, 10». 
McGilverj', Freeman, Lieut.-Col.,205, 

206, 219. 
McGowan, Samuel, (C), Brig.-Gen., 

297. 
McKenzie, Ranald, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

415. 
McKuight, James, Capt., 287, 293, 296, 

307, 327, 334, 3.39. 
McKniglit, Geo. F., Capt., .360. 
McLain, Alex. S., Lieut., 390, 394. 
McLaws, Lafayette, (C). Maj.-Gen., 

126, 155, 167, 173, 195, 197, 199, 204. 

McMahon, Martin T., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen., 290. 

Meade, Geo. G., Maj.-Gen., 22, 54, 128, 
129, 130, 131, 136, 141, 14.5, 154, 158, 
159, 166, 184, 185, 186, 192, 194, 195, 
19(;, 199, 204, 205, 230, 231, 232, 233, 
236, 242, 24;?. 245, 247, 248, 249, 264, 
272,273, 277, 285, 288, 291, 295, 297, 

308, 313, 318, 320. 321, 32;i, 324, 326, 
332, 334, 3.35, 336, 34;s, 344. 345, 347, 
349, 350, 378, 385, 409, 410, 420, 422, 
423, 427, 429, 430. 

Meagher, Thomas F., Erig.-Gen., 61, 

66, 69, 70, 173, 199. 
Meigs, Montgomery, Quartermaster 

Gen., 123. 
Meikel, Col., 363, 364. 
Meredith, Solomon, Maj.-Gen., 189, 

190. 
Merritt, Weslej% Maj.-Gen , 415, 423, 

428. 
Miehler, Nath., Capt., 248. 
]\Iiles, Nelson A., Maj.-Gen.. 160, 349, 

355, ;i85, 386. 418, 422, 423. 427. 

Miller, , Major, 4:50, 432. 

Milroy, Robert 11., Maj.-Gen., 98. 
Mindil, Geo. W., Brevet Maj.-(;en., 

105. 
Monroe, J. Albert, Col., 3, 299, 348, 

.353; died June 11, 1891. 
Montgomery, Wm. R., Brig.-Gen., 19. 
Moodv, Geo. V., (C), Capt., 206, 207, 

223." 
Moore, Alex., Col , 161. 
Moore, John W., Col., ;iS3. 
Morgan, John 11., (C), Brig.-Gen., 407. 
Morell, Geo. W., Maj.-Gen., 22, 33. 

(See Errata.) 
Morse, Epii. C, Quartermaster 7tli 

R. I., 393, 394. 
Mosby, John S., (C), Col., ;«2. 

Xaglee, Henry M., Brig-Gen., :>:>, .58. 
Nairn, Joseph E., Lieut., 141. (See 

Errata.) 
Neill, Thomas H., Brevet Maj -Gen., 

284, ;!0.S, :;i2, ;;20, 326, 327. 



538 



HISTORY OF BATTERY E, 



Nelson, Alanson H., Capt., 202. 
Nevin, David J., Col., 205. 
Newton, John, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 22, 
127, 139, 154, 157, 194, 248. 

O'Neill, Edward A., (C), Brig.-Gen., 

217. 
Ord, Edward O. C, Maj.-Gen., 22, 343. 

392, 411, 412, 413, 414, 420, 421, 422, 

423, 424, 425, 427. 
O'Korke, Patrick H., Col., 197. 
Osborn, Thomas VV., Brevet Col., .33. 
Owen, Joshua T., Brig -Gen., 228,288. 
Owen, Charles 1)., Capt. Battery G, 

R. I., 406. 

Raine, Wni. H., Col., 104. 

Palmer, Innis N., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

51. 
Paris, Louis Philippe, Comte de, 199, 

203. 206, 218. 
Parke, John G., Maj.-Gen., 83, 350, 

378, 409, 415. 418, 428. 
Parker, Win. W., (C), Capt., 195, 207, 

223. 
Parsons, Augnstus N., Capt., 381, 382, 

385, 386, 387, 388, 390. 
Patterson, Geo. M., (C), Capt., 195, 

198, 207. 
Peck, John J., Maj.-Gen., 66. 
Pegram, John, (C), Maj.-Gen., 288, 

400, 401. 
Pegram, Wni. J., (C), Col., 357. 
Peirce, Ebenezer W., Brig.-Gen., 36. 
Pelham, John, (C), Capt., 77. 
Pender, Wm. D., (C), Maj.-Gen., 218, 

224. 
Perrigo, , Lieut., 386, 390. (See 

Errata.) 
Perrin, Abner, (C,) Brig.-Gen., 297. 
Perry, E. A., (C), Brig.-Gen., 201, 203, 

205. 
Pettigrew, J. Johnston, (C), Brig.- 
Gen., 190, 218, 224. 
Pettit. Uufiis J)., Cai)t., 58. 
Peyster, Jolmson L, de, Lieut., 420. 
l'ick<'tt, (ieo. E., (C), Maj.-CJcn., 126, 

155, 217, 218, 219, 220, 224, 231, 288, 

414. 
Pleasants, Henry, Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

343. 
PleasoMtou, Alfred, Maj.-Gen., 115, 

IK;, 1.5.5. 164, 180, 182, 230. 
Poague, Will T., (C), Lieut.-Col., 68, 

69. 
Poe, Orlando M., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

88, 102, 112. 

Pollard, Edward A. (Southern Histo- 
rian), 105. 

Pope, John, Maj.-Gen., S3, 84, 85, 86, 
88, 89, 94, 97, 98, 108, 109. 

Poore, Benj. Perley, (Author), 144. 



Porter, Andrew, Brig.-Gen., 19. 

Porter, Josiali, Capt., .58. 

Porter, Fitz John. Maj.-Gen., 3, 19, 22, 
32, 33, 36, 37, 46, 53, 54, 56, 57, (M), 67, 
70, 71, 73, 93, 94, 97, 98, 100, 101, 109, 
117. 

Posey, Carnot, (C), Brig.-Gen., 161. 

Potter, Robert B., Maj.-Gen., 2S2, .325, 
343, 346, 353, 357, 358, 418, 428. 

Pratt, Franklin A., Capt., 241. 

Prince, Henrv, Brig-Gen., 226, 245, 
246, 248, 251. 

Pritchanl, Benj. D., Brevet Brig.- 
Gen., 435. 

Ranisuer, Stephen D., (C), Maj.-Gen., 

297. 
Ransom, Dunbar R., Capt., 128, 136. 
Ransom, Robert, Jr., (C), Maj.-Gen., 

.126. 
Rees, Henry, Lieut., 345. 
Reiley, James, Capt., 6K, 69. 
Reno, Jesse L., Maj.-Gen.. 83, 88, 92, 

93. 94, 97, 98, 100, 101, 102, lO.i, 104, 

106. 
Revere, Joseph W., Brig.-Gen., 141, 

168. 
lievuolds, John F., Maj.-Gen., 22, .53, 

93, 97, 98, 127, 129, l.'MJ, 145, 154, 157, 

166. 184, 188, 189, 223. 
Rhett A. B., (C). Capt , 206, 22.3. 
Rice, James C, Brig.-Gen.. 293. 
Richardson, Lsrael B.. Maj.-Gen., 19, 

20,22,26, 29, 32, 47, 4S, 51, .58, (KJ; 

died Nov. .3, 1862. of wounds re- 
ceived at battle of Antietam, Md. 
Richmond, Lewis, A. A Gen., 144. 
Ricketts, James B., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

93, 98, 101, 282, 284, 293, 308, 312, 313, 

314, 338. 
Robertson, Jerome B., (C), Brig.- 
Gen., 195, 220. 
Robinson, John C, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

60, (H. (18. 70, 71, 75. 8,5, 8S. 90, 95, 98, 

99. 102. 110, 112. 113, 129, i:'.2, 140, 154, 

190, 198, 273, 289. 
Robinson, O'Neil W., Capt , 2.52, 263, 

273. 
Roder, John W., Lieut., 251. 
Rodes, Robert E., (C), Maj.-Gen., 47, 

1,5.5, 162, 191, 217, 307. 
Rodman, Isaac P., Rrig.-(!en., 3; died 

of wounds Sept. 30, 1862, received at 

battle of Antietam. Md. 
Rodenbongli, Theophilus F., Brevet 

Brig-Geu., 479. 
Roebliug. Washington A., Capt., 249. 
Ros.s, Hugh M., (C), Capt, 19.5, 198, 

207. 
Rosser, Thomas L., (C), Miij -Gen., 

;i35. 
IJowlcy. Tliomas A., Brig.-(ien., 190. 



FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



539 



Russell, David A., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

240, 242, 289, 290, 295, 300, 305, 308, 
312, 36G. 

Sal 111 Sal 111, Felix Prince, Col. 8tli N. 
Y. Ilegt., 148. 

Sanders, J. C. C , (C), Brig. Gen., 358. 

Sawin, — — , Lieut.. 3()5. 

Savles, Welcouie B , Lieut. -Col. 7tli 
R. I., 135. 

Schenk, Robert C, Maj.-Gen., 94, 98. 

Scliriver, Ednuind, Col., 349. 

Scluirz, Carl, Maj.-Gen., 94, 1.54, 155. 

Sedswick, Jolin, Maj.-Gen., 19, 22, 26, 
32, 36, 47, 48, 59, 60, 141, 154, 157, 173, 
236, 242, 245, 248, 249, 264, 1:77, 282, 
285, 286, 287, 288, 290, 294. 

Seelev, Francis VV., 1st Lieut., 157, 169, 
170, 171, 180. 194, 223. 

Seninies, Paul J., (C), Brig.-Gen., 19.5, 
198, 199, 200, 201, 203,204, 208. 

Seward, Wni. IL, Sec. of State, 153. 

SewelJ, Win. J., Brevet Maj.-Gcn., 
195. 

Seymour, Truman. Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
53, 66, 67, 286, 287, 422, 427. 

Shaler, Alex.. Brevet Maj.-Gen., 286, 
287. 

Sheridan, Philip H., General, 282, 304, 
305, 307, 308, 334, 344, 353, 36(i, 384, 
403, 411, 412, 413, 414, 420, 421, 42.', 
423, 424, 425, 427, 428. 

Sherman, Thomas W., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen., 2. 

Sherman, Wni. Tecumseh, General, 
410, 411, 436. 

Shields, Jame,';, Brevet Maj.-Gen., .32 

Sickles, Daniel E , Maj.-Gen., 33, 48. 
59. 82, 66, 70, 109, 115, 11(5, 126, 127, 
129, 130, 138, 141, 14.5, 148, 149, 153, 
154, 1.56, 1.57, 159. 160, 161. 162. 164, 
168, 169, 174, 177, 178, 183, 194, 195, 
200, 223, 226, 234, 247, 201, 273, 384, 
471, 478, 479, 480,481. 

Sigel, Franz, Maj.-Gen., 86, 93, 94, 96, 
97, 98, 100, 106, 108, 109, 145, 154. 

Simmons, Lieut., 408. 

Sims, Robert, Lieut., 157. 

Sleeper, J. Henry, Capt., 233,237,239, 

241, 24!), 337. 

Slocum, Henry W., Maj.-Gen., 22, 54, 

56, 58, 59. 66, 115, 145. 154, 156, 158, 
164, 166, 168, 174, 192, 436. 

Smith, .lames E., Capt, 33, 180, 194, 

196, 19.S, 223. 
Smith, James Y., Gov. of R. I., 272, 

279, 392, 403. 
Smith, , Surg, with battery, 124, 

228. 
Smith. Wni. F., Maj.-Gen., 19. 22, 32, 

57, 58, 66, 127, 129, 145, 308, 309, 323, 
324, 325, 343, 347. 



Smyth, Thomas A., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
422. (See Errata.) 

Snow, Rev. Charles A., 224. 

Stafford, Leroy A., (C), Brig.-Gen., 
288. 

Stahel, Julius, INIaj -Gen., 22. 

Stannard, Geo. J., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 
205, 219, 220. 

Stanton, Edwin M.. Sec. of War, 426. 

Starr, Samuel H., Major, 33. 

Start, Romeo H., Capt. 3d Vt. bat- 
tery, 432. 

Steinwehr, Adolph von. Brig. Gen., 
94, 155, 191. 

Stevens, Isaac L, Maj.-Gen., 83, 101, 
104, 

Stevens, Greenleaf T.,Capt. 5th Me. 
battery, 173, 299, 337. 

Stevens, Geo. T., Surg. 77th N. Y., 
291, 292,295, 301, 309, 315. 

Stevens, Wm. O., Col , 168. 

Stevenson, Thomas M., Brig.-Gen., 
282, 293. 

Stewart, Geo. B., (C), Brig.-Gen., 295. 

Stockton, T. B. W., Col., 33. 

Stone, Roy, Brevet Brig.-Gen., 190, 
191. 

Stone, Charles P., Brig.-Gen., 19. 

Stoneman, Geo., Maj.-Gen., 19, 109, 
113, 114, 115, 124, 129, 130, 141, 14.5, 
150, 154, 180, 273. 

Stuart, James E. B., (C), Lieut.-Gen. 
77. 87, 126, 155, 167, 168, 220, 223, 282, 
305. 

Sturges, Samuel D., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen, 120, 146. 

Sumner, Edwin V., Maj -Gen., 32, 42, 
46, 47, 51, 57, 58, 61, 67, 70, 71, 100, 101, 
120, 129, 132, 133, 146; died of dis- 
ease March 21, 1863. 

Sweitzer, Jacob B., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 
197, 198, 201, 203. 

Sykes, Geo., Maj.-Gen., 55, 132, 154, 
156, 158, 186, 204, 206, 248. 

Taliaferro, Wm. B., (C), Brig,-Gen., 

88, 126. 
Taylor, Geo. W., Brig.-Gen., 62, 87, 93. 
Tavlor, Nelson, Brig.-Gen., 89. 
Taylor, Osmond, (C), Capt. 195, 207, 

223. 
Taylor, Richard, (C, Lieut.-Gen., 69. 
Taylor, Bavard, Poet and Author, 113. 
Terry, Alfred II., Maj.-Gen., 3.55, 383. 
Terry, Henry D., Brig.-Gen., 20, 247. 
Thomas, Geo. IL, Maj.-Gen, 394. 
Thompson, .lames, Capt., 18, 19, 23, 

24, 33, 36, 43, 60, 61, 64, 67, 71, 85. 363. 
Tidball, John C, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

73, 392, 393. 
Tilton, William S., Brevet Brig.-Gen., 

197, 198, 201, 203 



540 



BATTERY E, FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, 



Tompkins, Charles H., Brevet Brig.- 

Gen., 1, 2, 64, 150, 152, 277, 282, 286, 

287, 293, 299, 311, 327, 328, 363, 381, 

403, 427, 430. 
Tompkins, Jolin A., Lieut.-Col., 294, 

299. 
Torb'ert, Alfred T. A., Brevet Maj.- 

Gen., 282. 
Townsend, Edward D., Brevet Maj.- 

Gen., (Adjt.-Gen.), 184. 
Trep)), Gasper, Col., 237. 
Trimble, Isaac R., (C), Maj.-Gen., 69, 

87, 155, 217. 
Trobriand, Pliilip Regis de. Brevet 

Maj.-Gen., 73, 141, 151, Iso, 182, 193, 

197, 198, 199, 201, 204, 2()S, 218, 223, 232, 
234, 237, 238, 241, 273, 2.S(i, 2S8, 295, 343, 
347, 349, 363, 364, 382, 383, 414, 421, 422,. 
427. 

Turnbull, John G., First Lieut., 136, 

141, 159, 1(;0, 164, 194. 
Tnrner, John VV., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

419, 425. 
Tvvitchell, Adelbert B., Lient. 5tli and 

Capt. of 7th Maine battery, 173, 354. 
Tyler, Joiin, (Ex-President), 321. 
Tyler, Robert O., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

66, 71, 250, 300. 

Upton, Emory, 15revet Maj.-Gen., 240, 
292, 293, 298, 3(36. 

Vanghan, Thomas F., Capt., 2. 
Viall, Nelson, Brevet Brig.-Gen., 271. 
Vincent, Strong, Brig.-Gen., 197, 223. 

Wadsworth, James S., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen , 22. 154, 189. 194, 282, 285, 288. 

Walker, Wm. R., Lieut., 9. 

Walker, Henry H., (C), Brig.-Gen., 
356, 357. 

Walker, James A., Lieut., 263. 

Walker, James A., (C), Brig.-Gen., 
297. 

Wallace, Lewis, Maj.-Gen , .333, 339, 
341. 

Wallace, Wm. FL, (C), Brig -Gen.. 413. 

Ward, John II. Ilobart, Brig.-Gen., 
42. 48, m, 109, 113, 114, 1.30. 140. 148, 
KU, 162, 164, 167, 180, 193, 19."), 196, 197, 

198, 199, 204. 27.!, 282, .343. 
Waterman, Kifhard, Capt.. 67, 278. 
Warren, (Jouverneur, lilaj.-Cien., ()7, 

1(i2, 19)), 233, 244, 24,"), 247. 24S, 249, 250, 
282, 284. 289, 290, 291, 294, 295, 297, 298, 
302, 304, 306, 307, 311, 312, 313, 320, 321, 



326, 345, 356, 357, 358, 378, 385, 386, 400, 

401,413,414,415,427. 
Webb, Alex. S., Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

16, 18, 219, 279, 288, 297. 
Weed, Stel)hen H., Brig.-Gen., 197, 

223. 
Weeden, Wm. B., Capt., 3, 33, 67. 
Weitzel, Godfrey, Maj.-Gen., 392, 411, 

412, 414, 415, 420, 428. 
Wheaton, Frank, Brevet Maj.-Gen., 

205, 400, 401, 422, 427. 
Wliipple, Amiel W.. Maj.-Gen., 127, 

129, 1.32, 154, 159, 1()2, 164, 1()5, 166, 176, 

180, 273; died May 7tli, not on the 

8th, as stated on page 176. 
White, Julius, Brevet Maj -Gen., (9th 

Corps), 357. 
White, Wm. H., Surg., 153, 228. 
Whiting, Wm. H. C, (C), Maj.-Gen., 

55, 68, 69. 
Wilcox, Cadmus M., (C), Maj.-Gen., 

47, 201, 203, 205, 206, 218, 220, 250, 302, 

422. 
Willcox, Orlando B., Maj.-Gen., 146, 

282, 346, 350, 357, 409. 418, 420, 427. 
Willard, Geo. L., Col. Comd. Brigade, 

205. 
Williams, Alphens S., Brevet Maj.- 
Gen., 32, 155, 166, 167, 168. 
Williams, Setli, Brevet Mnj.-Gen., 

3()(). 

Williams, Thomas, Brig.-Gen., 85. 
Wilson, James H., Maj.-Gen., 282, 283, 

304. 334. 335, 33(1. 
Winder, Charles S., (C), 69. 
Winslow, Geo. B., Capt., 180, 194, liMi, 

198, 2^3. 
Wi.se, Henry A., (C), Brig.-Gen., 413. 
Wistar, Isaac J., Brig.-Gen., 264. 
Wofl'ord, Wm. T., (C), Brig.-Gen., 200, 

20,3, 204, 205. 

Wolfe, , Surg., 391, .392. 

Woodbury, Rev. Augustus, 284, 345, 

420. (See Preface.) 
Wooding, Geo. W., (C). Capt , 68, 69. 
Woolfolk, Pichegru, Jr., (C), Capt., 

22.3. 
Wright. Ambrose R., (C), Maj.-Gen., 

.52, 161. 201, 20.3, 20,5, 20);. 
Wriglit, Horatio G., Maj.-Gen., 248, 

282,284. 2S)), 290, 291, 294, 295,297, 

30)), .308, .^32, 33)!, 341, 384, 403, 415, 

41)), 417, 419, 420, 422, 427. 

Zook, Sanniel K., Brevet Maj.-Gen,, 
200, 203, 223. (See Errata.) 



5. 78 ''^ 




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